New experiments upon vipers :

'

I

,NEW EXPERIMENTS

UPON

VIPERS.

WITH

EXQUISITE REMEDIE Si

That may be drawn from them, as well for the
I Cun of their JS ititgs, as for that of other Maladies.

Alfo a LETTER of

FRANCISCO REDI ,

Concerning fome Objections mad? upon
\ his Obfervations about VI P E RS ;

j Written to

Monfieur BOZJRDELOT

AND

M.ALEX. MO R VS.

Together with the Sequel of New Experiments
Upon Vipers,in a Reply to a Letter written by

Sign. F. REDI
By M. C HARAS.

I2oSb tenOjta (EmjUfij. -s

LONDON

’rinted for 'f.Martyn, Printer to the R.Sucletv , at
Y the Bell in Ss. P.wls Ghurch-yard, 1673.

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Digitized by the Internet Archive
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https://archive.org/details/newexperimentsup01char

THE

Preface.

Iny will perhaps wonder , that af-
ter Jo many famous Authoursy
Ant tent and Modern , who have
wrttten of V I P E R S, I fhould
•jet undertake to labour in an
Argument , which in all likelihood they fhould
have exhaufled. But if reflexion be made
on the many wonders , that are found in the
Body of this Animaf it will be eafily granted^
that it cannot be inquir’d into with too much
exattncfs, and that it is tot a work } that can
be finifh't at one or two fittings.

What Obfervations have been left us by
knowing men although the j be not carried to
their perfection, may be very ufeful to thofe ,
that are come after them y to make them dif co-
ver what hid Reaped their diligence. And
without this aid , I fhould net have had the
A 3 con-

The PREFACE;

confidence of undertaking this Work-in which
I have propos'd to my felf three main things ,
that may much contribute to the illufiration
of the Hi (lory concerning Vipers. The firft
is, to examine f undry obfervatious of the
Antients , which have hitherto pafi’d for
true, though mo [l of them are not fo. The
fecond , to give an accompt of other Ob-
fer vat ions, which have been unknown to our
Predeceffcrs. The third, to find in the Vi-
per, which canfeth fo man y mi [chief Spe-
Cifick Remedies again fi its Biting , which
had not been difcover’d before , and may
ferve to overcome many troublefom Difiem-
pers, which the ordinary Remedies were not
able to conquer.

The Enterpnf l certainly, is bold 5 andy
J confcfs, I fhould never have comp of’ d it,
what hope foever I might have conceived
of it) had I not been affified by fome know-
ing Phyfitians , whofe light hath been very
helpful tome .

Their Mode fly permits not, I fhould hen
name them 5 it fuf fleet h the Publick ti
know , that a good part of the rare things
in this Treatife is due to thorn. They hat
the kindnefs to meet often at my Houfe fo,
the fpace of three months, and there to fe

mat 1

•I‘

Tfie PREFACE.

made exatt Diffc&io s of V iper% wh h b
m> care were brought to me font a
of this Kmgdome • and to fee afo tx
merits tryed of their biting , upon in
nitnals. and to examine their Boa es . ■

diately open d after their death , to d(t
the true caufe of it ; and 10 prefcnbe
me dies # anfwerable to their Conje'Jure
and to take notice of the fuccefs of t ■$ '
fame .

In differing all thefe V pers, we w re
willing to fee the parts, which Authu s h*vc
taken notice of and which have alfo been rc
frefented in the Books of Jome of them e
And comparing them with the Natura one
that were before our Byes . we found gr-‘a ;
emifsions of very confderable parts an
troduttion of jome imaginary ones , am *g-
frefentations and [equations of ft eralthm
were ill dejigned, and ill enough placed , Sc
WM thought ft, I fhould en eavaur toper
j form fomething mere accompli Ibt : a yd

Monftur Boffe, who fe skill and dexter ui in
the Art of Defining and Graving h known
j tod ejleem d of all the World, in things of
| a fan fublimer nature than the Anatomy of
■ Vipers , being happily prefent at one of our
1 Wrings > and taking great pleafure to oblige

4 his

The PREFACE.1 ^

his Friends, expreff’d from that faery lime y
that be was very wdling to j econd my in-
tent tons : And having received from me

a fuffeient number of Subjells, hath taken
the pains to deftgn them after the life , and
thereupon to grave all the confiderable parts
of this Animal . In a word, I have omitted
nothing of what might render my Defign an -
freer able to the wifhes of all Learned and
Curious men .

New as thofe, who, f peaking of a matter
that hath been often handled by others, cannot
but mufl often repeat again} what hath been
already fat d of it 5 I thought, 1 was not to
fcruple to enlarge my felf a littie , that /
might not give an imp erf ell Anatomy of
the Viper, of which it was ft enough to de-
scribe as well the great number of the true
parts, that have been known to our Ancefors,
as the new ones, by me found after themp

1 fay nothing of my way of Writing.
From a perfon of my profeffton, you arp not
to ex pell the Elegancy ond Purity of our
T ongue. I thought it enough for me , to
deliver my felf clear fa and intelligibly ,
which is , in my opinion , all that could be
expelled from me.

5

The PREFACE;

For the refi T think 5 1 am the fir fl, that
ha'h given to France a Treacife of the Vi-
|M in its Native Language. Thofe who
under fiand no other Languages 7 may think
t hem ( elves obliged by it , in regard they
would elfe have been ignorant of abun-
dance of things y that deferve to be known.
Farewell.

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THE TABLE

Of the Tides of all the Con-
tents in this Book.

Anatomy of the Viper.

Chap. I. Eneral ohfervatms upon
VJ the ripen

Defcription of the Viper.

Ch. II. Of the Parts which prefent them «
j elves fir (l: of all. of the ext er tour Jhape
of the riper. Secc.i.
of the skin of the riper. See. 2.

Of the parts of a Vipers
Head.

Ch.IIL o]the riper s Nofe, Sec. 1.

Of

The CONTENTS.

Of the Skull. Sect. 2.

Of the Brain. Sec. 3.
of the Eyes and their principal Parts ,
and of thofe that fen ve for Hearing.
Sect. 4.

of the Bones of the Head that are arti-
culated to the Skull. Sec. 5 .

Of the 7eeth . Sec. 6.

Of the Nerves , Veins , Art cries , and
Mujcles of the Head in general. Sec.7.

of the Saltval Glands of the Viper ,
Sec. 8.

Ch. IV. Of the other Bones of the Viper , and
of the principal parts that depend therefrom.
Ch. V* of the other internal parts of the Vi-
per. of the Tongue. Sec. 1.

of the Wind-pipe , and the Lungs.
Sec. 2.

of the Heart and Liver , Sec.3.
of the Call and Pancreas. Sec. 4.

Of 1 he Weafandand Stomach. Sec. 5.
of the Guts } kidneys , Eat, and a Coat
wrapping them up under-neath. Sec.6 .
Ch.VI.o/ thcQrgans of Generationina Vi-
per. Self, 3.

of the parti of a Male. Sec. 1 .
of the parts of Generation in a Female.
Sec. 2.

Of

V3 The CONTENTS.

of the Generation and Birth of ri-
sers. Sec. 3.

The Explication of what is reprefented
inthe frjl Cut.

The Explication of what is exhibited in
the fecond Cue.

The Explication of what appears in the
third Cut.

Experiments upon Vipers.

Ch. I. A Biting of a Viper happnd to 4
Man .

Ch. II. Experiments of Vipers upon divers
Animals . Experiments on Bogs.

The Biting of a Bog in his Tan

Another Biting upon a Bog ,

The Biting of a little Bog.

Another Bog hit in the T ongue.

Ch. III. Experiments of the Biting, of a Vi*
per made upon Pigeons and Bullets.

Cn. IV, of the Poyfon of a Vipers biting ,
and of its operation.

Ch. V, Experiments of the yellow liquor
contained in the little Baggs of the greater
Teeth , made on fever al Animals.

Cb.Vf, Experiments of the Gall \ Eggs>

Guts ,

The CONTENTS. >

Gttts,fJedds,andthe Blood of a Piper mads
w divers Animals .

Ch.VH. Sundry ether Experiments made
upon Vipers.

Ch. VIII. General Reflexions on all thofe
Experiments.

Remedies drawn from Vi-
pers,

Ch. I. of the different choice that may he
made of the parts of Vipers.

Ch. II. of the Ufe of the parts of [a Viper ,
m to its Nourifhing vertue.

Ch. Ill, of the Vertues of fever Alp arts of a
Viper in Phyftck.

Ch. IV. of the Porvder and Tmhifques of
Vipers .

Ch. V. Of the Viper- Salt of the Antients.

Ch.* VI. Of the Volatil Salt of Vipers of
their Fixt Salt , and of the other parts
that are feparated hj Biff illation .

Ch. VII. Of the Fixation of the Volatil Salt
of Viper Si

Ch. VIII. of the vertues of the Volatil Salt
of Vipers 9and3of what other parts are able

t§

The CONTENTS;

id dce y that are feparated h) DiftWai
tio».

Ch.IX. of the my ofufwg the Volatll Salt
of Vipers .

Ch.X. Divers Remedies or Compositions* of
which this Volatil Salt psjhe Safe 0%
ground.

ET&Riji

PAgeig. line 6. read feenon. p. 29. f. 8. t. and
that. p. 95. 1. 27. r. and the want of goodneft.
p, 12©. I. 5- 1- *ke bitten animal would be. p. 1 26. 1.
1 2. r. twice thoughfiot^wice in the day-light, p.i 63.
|. 12. r. adapt, p. 165. 1. * with Salt and Dill. p.
a 72. 1. 1. r. Simples be in.

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(O

ANATOMY

O F A

VIP

(jeneral Obfervations upon
this aAnimah

CHAPTER l

Know not, what ground
the Antient Writers up-
on this Animal had » to
fay , that in the Copu-
lation, the Male did in-
fert his Head into the
throat offthe Female, and
there emitted his feed , thence falling into
her Matrix , where fhefirft did form Eggs
and then Young Vipers • That the Female,
finding a titillation from the emifiion of
the feed , fnapp’d off with her teeth the
B head

f

head of the Male, and fo kill’d him 5 and
that thdYoung Vipers, being ready to be
brought forth , did pierce the Womb and
the fides of their Damm , tomakeapaf-
fage for themfelves *, fo that by killing her,
they revenged in fome manner the death of
their Sire.

I confefs,that this Story, or T ale rather,
having neither reafon nor experience on its
flde,I cannot take the part of thofe Authors.
I efteem , that a Viper, which is a kind of
creeping Serpent , is indeed procreated by
the conjunttion of Male and Female^but this
is done by means of the Organs defigned for
Generation* of which we fhall make adef»
cription in their proper place, and which
this Animal hath common with all others ,
and that more in number , than moft Ani-
\ mals.

The Viper differs from other Serpents ,
not only in this , that it creeps more flow-
ly, and jumps not-, but chiefly herein,tha£
its little ones receive their perfection in the
womb,and come forth alive after theufual
manner * whereas the Femals of other Ser-
pents lay Eggs , which they incubate 5
and hatch 3 either in the Sua,or in their re-
cedes*

The

(s)

The Viper is by many taken for aii T-
mage of malice and cruelty •, but in reality
fhe is guilty of no fuch thing , if (he be not
hurtorvex’d*, for, if (he be, (he becoms fu-
rious , aud bites very piercingly.- butfhe
never aflfaults Man or beaft , except (be be
angred. And if attimesjit happen, that
fhe bites fome perfon or other fleepingin
the field, certainly that Body muff have
thruft or otherwife hit her 5 for elfe (he
would never have bit him.

It may very well be faid , that by that
means the Stratagem of Anntbal fucceeded,
when he caufed a quantity of earthen Pitch-
ers fill’d with Vipers to be thrown into the
Shipps of the King of Pergamus^ his Ene-
my 5 in regard that on the one hand the
Pots being broken , did hurt and anger the
Vipers, rnd ftirr’d them up tobite whatso-
ever was within the reach of their teeth $ and
on the other, the llghc cf thefe creeping
Creatures, fcattered about here and there in
the Ships, frighted the Souldiers anddif
order’d them,fo that they could not fight.

Meantime a Viper2nacksand kills thofe
Animrls , which fhe means to devour tor
her nourifhment, asSpanifhFiyes, hcorpi-
ons3Froggs,Mice, Moles, Lizmds 2nd the
B % Ike

U)

like ‘vyhich ftiefwallows whole, after (he
hath kill’d them with her bigger Teeth.
T he fmaller prey Hie fends down whole in-
to her ftomach 5 the bigger fhe partly lodg-
eth in her ftomach , partly in her wea-
fand.

There can hardly be made any perfedfc
digeftion in the Stomach of Vipers, both
becaufe the heat is there not well united, by
reafonof the great aperture , there is at the
mouth, where the Oefophagus or Wea-
fand ends 5 and becaufe they have not moi-
fture enough to help the fermentation and
the Concodtion of food. But yet this hin-
ders not * the conveyance of the Juyce and
of the fineft part of the fwallow’d animals
into all the parts of their body for nourish-
ment .• Which is not performed but in the
fpace of many days , during which, the ex-
crements and fupei fluities of the nutriment
are carried into the Gutts, whence the grof-
fer parts of them are caft out again by the
1100th. T his we have lately obferv'dina
great part of the body of a Lizzard , which
a Viper vomited up twelve days after fhe
was taken ■ where we favv,that,of the head
and of the fore-leggs , and of that part of
the body contiguous to them, and which

could

could conveniently be placed in the fto-
mach of the Viper, there refted li^lle more
than the Bones ^ but that a great part
the trunk, together with the hind-leggs,
and the whole Caile, were in a manner in a
condition, as if the Viper had iwallow'd
them that day, as appears in the zd Figure.
But we were furpiifed, among other things,
to fee, that the parts , which could not en-
ter into theftomach,and had remained in the
Oefophagus, had kept To long well, I mean,
without fuffring any alteration in the skin $
although thofe underneath had contra&ed
home lividnefs , which perhaps was an effeft
of the venemoufnefs of the biting.

. Vipers can live for many monrhs without
any food, and after they are once taken,
they eat no more, living then only upon
the Air, they take in. And although they
be greedy enough of Lizzards , when at
liberty , yet I have found , that having
thrown Lizzards alive into a barrel, where-
in I kept a good number of living Vipers,
and leaving them there whole da.s and
n ghts , the Vipers did no hurt at all to the
Lizzards.

The Subftance of Vipers is vifcous and
compaft j and perifheth not but very flow-
B 3 ly

ly and difficultly. Their Skin is fcaly, which
defends them from the injuries of the Air ,
and maketh that the Spirits unite them-
felves fo firmly to the body, that ’tis hard
for them to quit it-, andwefee, thatthey
remain yet many hours in the Head and in
all the parts of the trunk , after tis flead ,
emptied of all the gutts, and cut in ma-
ny pieces.” And this is thecaufe , that the
motions and windings fo long continue in
them-, that the Head is able to bite, and
its biting as dangerous, as when the Vi-
per was entire 5 and that the Heart , even
after it is pull’d out of the body, and fe-
ver’d from the otherinward parts, keeps its
beating for many hours. Whence it may
be concluded , that the Viper , which is
compofed of parts fo clofely united toge-
ther , and in which are found fuch perfect
Spirits, can impart to Man what it hath
moft accomplifhtandinfo^reat abundance:
So that we need not wonder, if we find the
remedies , we draw from its body, are of a
not-ordinary vertue.

A Viper voids not much excrement ,
and what (he voyds is not offenfive, where-
as that of Snakes Rinks much, and hath the
fmell of Hale and corrupt Urine. Nei-
ther

r ,

thcr have we ever found any ill fmelliri <>
pening the veffels, wherein we m fed to
keep Vipers alive , unlefs fome vfper or o-
ther had been dead and putrifyed. For my
part , I have never received any inconvem-
encefrom any ill air, which fome pretend to
ifliie forth at the opening of thofe Veffels.

Vipers make no holes in the Earth to hide
themfelvesin , as other Serpents do 5 but
ordinarily they hide themfelves under
ftones or old ruines , where they may be
often found heaped up and wound toge-
ther in clufters. When ’tis fair weather, they
love to lurk under bullies and tufted plants.

They commonly couple twice a year, the
time in the month of March 5 and they
goewith their young ones 4. or 5.months$
which being perfect, come forth one after
another by the common opening of the Ma-
trix in great number3tven to twenty and
twenty five. They draw out with them, in
coming forth, a fmall tegument faftned
to their navil, like an after- birth, which
the damm by little and little £eparateth
with her tongue , as they are bom one af-
ter another.

Vipers calf a skin every Spring , and
fomenmes even in Autumne .* which hath
B 4 ecca-

<

(8)

occafioneda belief, that they have a ver-
cue, able&D make young again, and to pre-
ferve the llrength of thofe , who ufe them
either for a prefervative or a remedy.

THE

DESCRIPTION

-s Q F A

VIPER

CHAP. II.

Of the 1? artsjtobich prefent
t hemf elves firft.

SECT. I.

Of its external Figure.

T He Vipers, Males and Females, that
we have in France , being of their
full growth , are in the middle of their bo-

dy

(9)

ciy a good inch thick 5 but that of Females
is bigger , when they are with y^ung , e-
fpecially when the young ones are ready to
tome forth. They are commonly two
good foot long 5 and there arefome, that
are fome what longer. Their head, which
is flat, hath a kind of border roundabout
the edges of its upper p2rt , and io that
they differ from Snakes , which have all
that round bared and taken down, and
the Head fharper and narrower, in propor-
tion to their Body.

The Head of a Viper is in all an inch
long, and towards the top thereof it is 7
or 8 lines broad > and thenleffening by lit-
tle and little, it is not above 4 or 5 lines
broad about the Eyes , and 2 lines onely
about the end of the Nofe. It is about %
lines thick.

The Neck, taken where it begins , is a-
bout the bignefs of a mans little finger.
That of Males is ordinarily a little thicker
than that of Females : Yet there are fome
of the Females , which , when full , ap-
pear to have a Neck even thicker than that
of Males.

The Tail of Males is always longer and
thicker than that of Females, becaufe it con-
tains

r

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tains the parts of generation double; and in
their Interfaces there arc alfo two (mail
bladders fomewhat long,ferving for a refer-
vatory of their feed, which make their Tail
bigger. This of the Males is about four
fingers fquare long^but that of Females not
much longer than three. The upper part
of the Taile of Males is, at its beginning,
about the bignefsof their Neck , and ends
iharp, as doth aifo the Tail of Females.
Neither of them (lings , nor have they any
venom in them.

SECT. I I.

Of the Skin of Vipers .

NO Vipers are feen, but they have
their skin fpotted: but the ground
of the colour is different enough ; for fome-
times 5tis whitifh , fome times reddilh , in
fome ’tis gray , in others yellow, in oth ers
tawny. This ground is always fpeckled
with black fpoas , or atleaftmuch darker
ones than the reft ; they appear like diffe-
' rent cyphers or characters , ranged in fpa-
ces, even enough, and anfwenng onea-
nother, efpecially on the top and the fides
of the Body. Some of them are alfo up-

on the Head , and among the reft , two
in the form of Horns, which take
their rife between both Eyes , and open
themfelves and reach towards the two fides
of the top of the Head, and are fometimes
4. or 5. lines long, each of them, and
halfe aline broad. Oppofice to the mid-
dle of thefe two horns , there appears a
fpeck of the bignefs of a fmall Lentile ,
being fhaped like the Iron of a Pike: And
this is that, which is, as ’twere, the firft and
principal of all thefe fpecks , Teeming to
guide them all along the Back-bone,

T he Skin is all cover’d with Scales , the
greateft, ftrongeft and moft confiderable
of which , are thofe under the whole Bo-
dy , and fome under part of the Head„
Their bignefs and force is neceffary for
them , to fortify the Viper in the place
that is feebleft and leaft capable of defence^
befides that they fupport the Animal , and
ferve it , inftead of feet , for creeping, and
for carrying its Body to and fro. Thefe
great Scales are alwayes of the colour of
Steel, from one end to the other , and dif-
ferent from thofe of Snakes, which are
commonly mark’d with 3 yellow colour.
Theyopei, and ftick, according as the

Vi”

' J" • (iO

Viper will recoyle, or ftop. Theextre:
mity of tbefe great Scales is 3 as ’cwere,
fow’d beneath the other litle Scales, which
cover the whole Body. Thofe under the
Head , reach in their breadth towards the
twojawes; they are letter, (freighter and
fofter than thofe under the Belly , and ter-
minate at other fmaller Scales , which go
on to cover the whole undermoft part of
the Head, and , beginning their ranks to-
wards the ends before , continue them at
the fides of thofe ranks as far as towards
the bottom of the Jaws.

From thebegining of the Neck unto the
beginning of the Tayl , there are as many
great Scales, as there are vertebraes or
Joynts of the Back- bone; and as each
Vertebra hath on each fide a Ribb, each
Scale meets by its t wo ends the points of
both , and ferves them for a defence and
Ihy : the fame abuts alfo on each fide at
the end of one rank of litle fcales , where-
with the reft of the Body is covered , and
it feems,that his placed there to receive
them. Thefe fmall fcales are admirably
well ranged , they lying upon one another,
and reprefenting'each as ’twere halfe a round
towards their extremity. Their ranks ap-
pear

( 13)

pear always floping , whether you look on
them from the right fide to the left 3 or
from the left to the right ^ fome what ah
ter the manner of the ranks of fmall Slate 3
that are cut in a halfe round , in fome pla-
ces feen in the tops of houfes. Thefe
Scales are more or lefs great , according as
the part of the Body, they cover , is great-
er or lefie^ The Symmetry of them is
always very exquifite and even ^ and is fu-
table to the great Scales, united to their
ranks beneath. T here are alfo obferv d on
the top of thefe Scales , and all along the
Back, many -fine and diftindt Lines , paf-
fing (freight along from the hind-part of the
Head unto the end of the T ay).

The Scales, that are under the Tayl from
the beginning of it to the end, are divided,
and yet they appear united and ranged in
the middle by a very orderly and pieafing
compartment ; and their bignefs goes di-
miniihing in proportion with the Tayl.

The Skin of the Head is alfo covered
with fmall fcales, and at the end of the
Nofe turned up , and fo on , even round
about , as far as towards the Eyes, in the
manner of a fwines-fnout.

There are obferved onlyfix openings in

the

V

the Skinrof a V iper : the biggeft is that of
its Throaty the other four are thofe of the
twoNoftrils, and of the two Eyes; the
laft is that , which is at the lower-moft end
of the Belly, where is the beginning of the
Tayl , which inclofeth not only the hole of
the Gut for voiding the excrements, but al-
fo thofe of the organs of Generation, as
well of Males as Females. This laft ope-
ning is fhut by the laft of the great fcales ,
which is advanc’d in the form of a half
round , and opens in falling lower at the
time of copulation, asitalfo doth at the
time of the young Vipers being caft, and
of the excretion of their dung. The Throat
opens and (huts at the will of the Animal ;
the Noftrils remain alwayes open , and
the Eyes have Eye-lids to cover them up-
on occafion. There is no aperture in the
skin to give any paffage for Hearing $ Na-
ture, it feems, ferving herfelf of the aper-
tures of the Noftrils for that purpofe.

Vipers ordinarily caft their fcaly Skins
twice a year, under which they are furnifht
with another, quite formed, which at
firft appears much fairer , and of a more
vivid colour, than that which is caft off.
And there is alfo infenfibly forming an o-

( 15 ) s/ ■ . ■ '

ther new one, againft the time it is to
ferve , when that which now*, covers ic
fhallbe fevered from it: So that a Viper
hath at all times a double skin 5 and all
thefe skins, though furniflit with fcales3
are notwithftanding tranfparent, being
held and look’t on againft the day-lighr.

This External defcription might be
fufficient for thofe , who (hall defire no
. more but to know how to difcern Vipers
from other Serpents , but the Anatomical
Defcription of all the parts under the Skin
will be much more fatisfa&ory and more
neceflary for thofe, who Ihall defire to
know exa&ly all the good and all the ill in
a Viper,

CHAP. Ill

/

W (1 6)

\ CHAP. III.

OF the Farts of the Head

o F A

VIPER

SECT. I.

Of the Nofe and Nojirtls.

BEginning at the extremity of the Head
there are the Nofe and the Noftrils .
The former is made up of a Bone Tome
what Griftly, furnifht with fome ends of
Mufdes , that come farther off, and are
accompanied with fomefmall veins and ar-
teries. T his Bone is alfo cover’d with th®
fcaly Skin, turn’d up, aswasfaid above ,
at its extremities. There are two pipes,
ip the two fides, that form the noftrils,
which have each a fmall and round ope-
ning on the right and the left fide , before,
and the proper nej;ve, which corns down

from

■ i

07)

from the fore-part of the Brain unto their
Orifice, and communicates to them*the ob-
, je&s of fmelling. The fame Pipes ferve
alfo to receive two fmall Nerves, which if-
fue each from the lateral part of the Brain,
and ferve for Hearing. This griftly Bone
hath feveral Angles round about, and is ar-
ticulated by two ftrong Ligaments within
and about the hollow and anteriour part of
the Skull - which hinders not, but that it is
a little flexible in this Articulation.

Se-CT. 2.

• ft

Of the Shrill.

it.

le

of

re

i*

ic

3

')

h

5)

it-

•e,

FD

IB

THe Skull is found hollow in the fore-
part of it, and reprefents the lhape
pf an Heart in this Cavity, when the Bone
pf theNofe is feparated from it. There are
itwo points advancing, which in part embrace
that Bone 5 it is in the fuperior part fur-
rounded with a fmall border, advancing in
thefafliionof a Cornifhe*, it is notch’d on
both fides, where the Eyes are fcituate,and
there forms their round holes, of which the
hind-part reaches out to a point , to which
anfwers that before. The whole Skull in

C all

r

08)

all its 'parts is of a very comparand hard
fubftance, There are three principal Su-
tures in the part above s the one5which maj
be call’d the Sagittal, which divides long-
wayes the part above the two Eyes ; th<
fecond, which may be term’d Coronal , di-
vides the Skull a-crofs behind the two Eye-
holes 5 the third3feparates it alfo crofs-way;
near the beginning of the Back* bone. Ii
the Surface of the upper part of the Skull
may be obferv’d the figure of an Heart wel
reprefented, feated in the middle thereof
which hath its hafts near the Suture Coro
nal,and carries its fharp end towards tbi
hind-part of the Skull, which is fever’d b]
the third Suture.

There is alfo another great Suture, rouni;
about the nethermoft lateral parts of th(
Skull, by which it may be divided into twj
bodies, an upper and lower. This Utter j
made in the form of a turn’d back , goin j
long wayes, hollow in the middle, and rci
prefenting the fhape of a Culter , vvhici
hath a kind of little wing on its fides, an;
whofe point advances beneath the middlj
of the Eyes. Its latter part defcenq
as far as the bottoms of the Palate;
where is hath in its lower part a poirl

defcendin

( *9)

i descending in the form of an ovtarifd
t hillock.

ij All the Sutures of the Skull are fo well
ij united in their conjunction, and fo ftrongly
connected, that ’tis very hard to diftinguiih
ci- them, and yet more to feparate the parts of
)'c them without breaking them , unlefs the
attSkull be boyled in fome liquor.

Sect. g.

Of the Brain .

'T'He fubftance of a Vipers Brain is di-
vided into five main Bodies, of which
:he two firfi: are oblong , each of the fize
ud md lhape of a grain of Succory-feed.T hey
4 re feated long* way es between the two
twfeyes 5 and ’tis from thefe Bodies, that the
er bIfaCtory Nerves do proceed. The three
oin ither are in the middle part of the Skull,
i it nd under that figure of the Heart , of
hidvhich we have been fpeaking. Each of
an hefe Bodies is near as big as a grain of the
icilieed of Milium Sells , and reprefents almofi:
i^hefliapeof a Pear, the point of which is
late urned towards the fore-part of the Head,
pic Two of thefe Bodies are feated in the up-
nfr C s per

r

(20)

per part long-wayes, and one on the fide o£
theothei 5 the third, which is a little lefs, is
placed under the middle of the two , and
may be call'd the Cerebellum, or little Brain,

The Spinal Marrow feems to be the fame
body with this laft, although it have a fe-
pirate place m the hind-part of the Shull,
3c is of a fubftance fomewhat whiter and
fofter than the Bodies, we have been juft
now fpeaking of, and of the fize of a fmall
grain of Wheat. It produces a Body of
the fame fubftance, which extends it felf
long-wayes, and paffing in a ftrait line!
thorough all the Vertebra sor Joints of the
Back- bone, terminates at the end of the
Tayle.

The Bodies of a Vipers Brain are cover’d
with a coat, thick enough, and flicking fafi:
enough to them, which may be called the
Dura Mater : It is black, whence it hath
hapned, that fome Authors, not taking the
pains to look under this Tunicle, have af-
firm'd , that Vipers Brains were black.
Linder this Dura Mater, each Body of the
Brain, feparately, hath alfo a little mem-
brane involving it, which may be termed
the Via Mater. There are obferved fome
fmall interdices betwixt thefe Bodies, and;

even

(21)

. (even in the Body of the Spinal Marrow,
‘ which might pafs for Ventricles : 'And I
j doubt not, but that, if theSubjed were a
little bigger, we might obferve in it mod
' of the confiderable parts, that are to be
' found in bigger Animals.

Sect. a.

i

Of the Eyes , and their principal
parts ’■) 05 alfo of thofe^that jcrve
for Hearing .

THe Eyes of Vipers are very quick,
and their afped is exceedingly fixe
and bold. They have their Nerves,
Mufcles, Veins, Arteries, Apple, Chryftal-
lin, Uvea, Cornea, Eye-lids, and the other
parts, like enough to thofe of the Eyes of
other Animals.

The moft confiderable Nerves are the
Qptick, which parting from behind both the
Eyes, do meet together and conjoin, lateral-
ly at the beginning of the Little Brain, and
there make as it were the figure of an X,
and opening themfelves after this conjum
dion, they encompafs that little Body by
the fides thereof, and render themfelves at,

C 2 the

(22 )

the beginning of the Spinal Marrow, which
received them.

T he (mallnefs of all the other parts be-
ing fuch, as that it maketh their examinati-
on difficult, and we having not been able to
find any thing particular in them, I efteem,
that as it would be very troublefome to
make Refearches thereof, fo it would be
to no purpofe, to make a defcription of
them.

The two upper Bodies of the Brain
fend each from their lateral fore- part a
fmali Nerve,which piercing the Skull,runs
along the Temples, where it joins it felf to
the Salival Glands (whereof we fliall fpeak
hereafter ) and following them, it pafleth
under theEye,whereitdividethitfelf into
two branches, of which the chief inferts
it felf into the Bone and the Conduit of
the NoftrilSjto ferve for the Senfe of Hear-
ing, and thelefTer defending towards the
T eeth, called the Dog- teeth, it ends there,
after it hath divided it felf into feveral
branches.

j

E C

♦

«2

Of the Bones of the Head , that are
u jointed to the Shrill,

i,

o N each upper fide of the middle of
t that Heart, which is feen above in

if the Skull, there is a little flat Bone, a mat-
ter of a line and an half long , that is
a firmly articulated to it, which following
j and adhering to the fame fide of the Skull
5 as far as to its hind- part, becomes to be ar-
5 ticulated anew to another flat Bone,lon-
j ger and ftronger , and forming there as
Twere an Elbow. This latter Bone goeth
3 downwards, and is ftrongly jointed to the
5 inward end of the lower Jaw? in themid-
f die of which articulation, the upper Jaw
. terminates, and is there jointed, but not fo
a firmly, becaufe it hath other articulations,
which the lower hath not, Thefe Bones,
j which are like Clavicles , ferve both for a
fupport to the Jaws, and to open and flint
them - and for this purpofe they are alfift-
ed by the Nerves and Mufcles, which Na=
ture hath provided them with.

C 4 There

(h)

There is alfo at each advancing end of
the Eyfc-hole a little flat Bone, being about
a line and an half long, which is ftrongly
articulated with the root of the Dog-
tooth, and by its other end is al/o firmly
jointed to the middle of the upper Jaw, as
well to fupportir, as to make it advance
together with the great Tooth, when it is
railed to bite.

The upper Jaw is divided in two, be-
fore, and is feparated, by the griftly Bone,
from the Nofe, where its two ends are arti-
culated on each fide, Thefe two Jaws are
much more inward than thofe below , and
the great Teeth are feated without their
rank and at their fide, tending outward,
and do Serve them for a defence. They are
made up, each of one only Bone, that is
about fix lines long.

The lower Jaw is alfo divided in two.
Thefe Jaws are annexed, before , one to
the other, by a Mufcle, which opens or
fliuts them at the plealure of the Animal 5
and they have no other articulation but
that, we have fpoken of about their in-
ward end, viz . with the Clavicle coming
down from the Skull, and with the inward
end cf the upper Jaws, Each of thefe

Jaws

V

C*5)

Jaws is compofed of two Bones, articu-
lated together towards the middle’of the
Jaw 5 that which is before , 'embraces
above and below that which is behind, and
can bend it felf outward in this phce5when
the Viper will bite,and is a little curved in-
wards toward its extremity* and 5cis upon
this Bone alone, that the lower Teeth are
faftned.

Sect. 6 .

Of the Teeth.

i.

j;

i

oj

)i

.

it

i-

r

o ,

d

i'e

;

THe Opinions of the Antients have
been very differing about the num-
ber of the great Teeth of Vipers, and mo ft
have held, that in this the Female exceed-
ed the Male, and that the plurality of the
great Teeth was the chief mark, whereby
to diftinguifh her from him. I have been
careful to inform my felf about it, and have
taken pains to grovel with a great deal a pa-
tience in the gums of innumerable Vipers 5
but all being well examined, I have not
found, as to this point, any true difference
of oneSexfrom the other, but fometimes
more, fometimes lefs Teeth in one and fht

other.

(

(26)

other. I have cafually met on each fide
with tw'o great Teeth fixed , placed very
near together, and on the fide of one an-
other, *s well in Males, as Females *? but in
moft of both Sexes I have found only one,
fixed on each fide, cover’d, to two thirds
of their height, with a Tunicle or Bag fuf-
ficiently thick, fill’d with a yellowifh juyce,
which is tranfparent and pretty fluid 5 and
in this Veficle,in the midfl: of this juyce,
and under the great and main Teeth, a dif-
fering number of Teeth ill fet, fome longer
than others, and all hooked, of which I
have counted, in feveral Vipers, from two
to five, fix and feven, on one and the fame
fide, under the felf- fame Tooth, and in the
fame Bag.

Thefe great Teeth areon'y in the up-
per part, ftanding on the fide, and without
the Jaws of the Animal, where they are
like Bulwarks. They are about two lines
long, hooked, white, hollow, and diapha-
nous throughout , as far as to their fliarp
point, which is very fubtle and exceedingly
piercing. T hey have many little Cavities
towards their Root , in which the other
Teeth are planted. Thefe Teeth com-
monly remain lying along the Jaw , and

O 7 )

their point appears not but at the mpment
the Viper will bite 5 for then in raifeth
them, and advanceth them jointly with the
; upper Ja^v, drawn by the Bone, which at
f one end is articulated in the middle of it,
and at the other, to the root of the great
Tooth,

The yellow liquor,contained in the Ve-
iicle, ferveth not only to moiften the liga-
ments, and to make them fit for the bend-
ing of the T eeth, but alfo to nourifh them,
and to make thofe grow, that are there as
I ’twere in a Nurfery, and are, if we may fay
fo, in expectation to ferve inftead of the
many Teeth, whether thefe come to fail in
| their force, or fall out of themfelves.

All the Jaws, both upper and lower, are
fortify’d with bent Teeth, that are hollow,
pellucid and fharp, as the bigger Teeth, but
that they are much fmaller. Their num-
ber is uncertain enough, whether it be,thac
Nature produces fometimes more, fome-
times lefs of them , or that that finenefs
| maketh them apt to break. There is little
i difference, as to the number, in thofe above
| from thofe below. Ordinarily there are
eight Teeth in each Jaw, but at times I
I helve found nine, ten, eleven in each. T hoft

(28)

that advance moft, are a little bigger thao
Hhedeepeft 5 and juft as thofe below anfwer
in formation to the Dog-teeth , that are
above them, they have at the end of each
fide one Tooth, that is a little bigger than
all thofe of the other Jaws, and another,
lefler, at the fide, at the end of the part
bent inwards.

There is a great difference in the Teeth
and Jaws of Vipers, from thofe of Snakes :
for /hefe have no Dog-teeth ; and although
their Jaws are all divided in their foremoft
part like as in Vipers, yet they exceed them
in the number of Jaws, and in the number
of T eeth 5 for, they have four Jaws above,
and two below 5 two of thofe above are
fituated 11 along and clofeto the rim of
the Lip, and ferve for a defence to the two
other Jaws, that are feated in the fame
place w'here thofe in Vipers are. Befides,
I have counted 13 Teeth in each exterior
Jaw above, and as many in each of the
Jaws below, and 20 in each fuperior inward
Jaw 5 fo that I have counted of them to
92 Teeth in one Snake, and all thefe Teeth
are bent, fine, hollow, white and tranfpa-
rent, like thofe in Vipers,

Sect.

OS>)

S E C T. 7* »

i) Of the , Neryes , Veins, Arteries and
Mufcles of the Head in general .

!

THe chief Nerves in the Head of a
Viper are, fiift, thofe of which we
have fpoken, namely thofe of the Smell,
the Sight and the Hearing. Befides, there
are thofe of theTafte, that which may be
call’d the fixth far vagumj which is after-”
wards diftributed into all the vital and na-
tural parts *, and thofe, which ifluing from
the Spinal Marrow are carried though the
whole habit of the Body. There are al-
fo many Nerves, that go from the inferiour
part of the Brain, and pafs through the
Skull, but by reafon of their fubtility and
finenefs, *tis hard to follow them to their
infertion.

There is yet another Nerve that is confi-
derable, which proceeds from the Skull,
behind that of Hearing, which leaves, in
the fpace between, a fmall Apophyfis, or Pro-
cefs,or Knot, in the Skull, ana which, de-
fending along the Clavicle, runs upon the
fuperiour Jaw, and is inferred in its middle*

then

Cs© )

then it goes on in the middle to its extre*
mity, and diftributeth it felf into all che
Teeth, fix’d there.

The Head hath alfo its Veins and Arte-
ries, which coming from the Liver and the
Hearty diftribute themfelves there into an
infinity of branches, by which all thofe
parts are bedew’d. It is alfo provided of
many Mufcks,at thefides and below the
Skull3and about the Clavicles, and fupe-
riour and inferiour Jaws,that ferve not only
to fill up the Cavities of the Skull, and to
cover the Bones that are articulated there,
but to give motion to all the parts that
need it: to which alfo the Nerves con-
tribute their fhare.

Sect. 8<»

Of the Saliva! Glands of a Viper .

THe Opinion of theAntients, That
the feat of the Vipers poyfon was
the Gallj and that from thence it afcended
into the Gums , by vefTels odly enough
fancied, hath feem’d to me too far from all
probability to follow it. I therefore
thought, that that particular did very well

defer ve

(30

deferve a ftridf enquiry, and that it. was of
moment to difcover the Truth thereof. On
the other fide, the curious Observations,
made oti this Subjedl by Signor Rediy a Flo*
5 rentine Philofopher, whofe merit is known
and efteem’d by all the Learn’d, Teemed to
me, as to all tnofe that have Teen and ex-
amin’d them, not onlyreaTonable and pof-
lible, but I was altogether perTwaded of
the candor and ability of that illuftrious
perTon. Upon his Accompt and Relation,
I never Tcrupled to tafte often of the gall
of Vipers, as well as of the yellowilh li-
quor, contained in the bags of the Gums ;
and 1 have found in bo:h the Truth of
whatlhe hath obferved thereof, namely a
great bitternefs, and a great fharpnefs in the
Gall; and the tafte of a or Spittle

Tufficiently flat, and approaching enough
to the tafte of the Oyle of Tweet Al-
monds, in the yellow Liquor of the
Gums.

TheTe great differences of the qualities
in the one from the other, made me believe
that there was a great diverfity in the mat-
ter of them, as well as in their Tour ce; and
I believed at firft, following Signor Redl}
that there might be Salival Vdfds in VV

pers.

(32)

pers , a? there have been lately found in
Man, and .divers other Animals? fo chat
after many refearches, made with attention
and patience enough , in many « Vipers
Heads, I difcover’d at length fuch Glands ,
proper to form this juyce, and to convey it
to the Gums > and after I was well perfwa-
ded of it my felf, I fliew’d them to divers
of thofe knowing Phyfitians , that had
met at myHoufe the laft Year. Thefe
perfons had a mind to fee with their own
Eyes, and after they had well examin’d the
parts which I fhew’d them, they not only
found them true, but they there alfo faw a
greater number of fmaller veftels, than had
appear'd to me, of which fome , that are
Arteries and Veins, pafs above the Glands ,
and others, that are Lymphedutls , run be-
low : fo that they judged, that I could con-
fidently affert and defcribe thefe Glands ,
which! call Salival, and which they had
acknowledged together with me ? though
Signor Red i durft not fpeak fofttwely of
them, becaufe he had not difcover’d them,
neither had they been defcribed by any
Author of their knowledge , nor by any
one of mine.

Thefe

(33)

Thefe Glands are found in all the Heads
of Vipers, both Males and Females $ they
are feated on both fides, and joining to the
Skull, in .the hind-part of each round of
the Eyes, and at the fame height with
them. T here are many fmall ones join’d
. together, which may be call’d Conglomerate
which areeafily diftinguifliable by
their form and colour, which is different
from the Mufcles, neighbouring to them,
and of which there is one , that may be
call’d Temporal^ which in part covers them
by its extremity. This heap of Glands
appears there of the bignefs of the neigh-
bouring Eye,and extending it felf in length,
continues its progrefs in the Orbire of the
Eye, below, and in part behind the Eye.
Each Gland hath its little Lymphatique
Veffel, which parts from it as from a little
Teat, and goes difgorging it felf into a
greater Veffel, that runs all along and un-
der thefeG/Wj, and paffeth into the Ve-
fide of the Gum, and terminates in the
midftof the Articulation, which the root
of thegreat Teeth maketh with the advan-
]V cing corner of the faid Orbite, and with the
little Bone, whi£h by its other end is articu-
lated in the middle of the upper Jaw. This
D principal

i

(34)

principarvdTel, which, being confidered
alone, is very little in appearance, but is
not fo in effed:, feing it receives the dif-
charge of all the fmall veflfels, t'hat come
from each Gland, empties it felf into the
Bag of the Gums, and carries thither that
Salival Juyce , which may have qualities
approaching to thofeof the Saliva or Spi*
tie of man, or of the foam or drivel of di<
vers other Animals.

The Nerve, which ferves in the No-
Brils for the faculty of Hearing , runs fo;
fome fpace along thefe Glands , which ar<
alfo,as I have already faid,lmal Veins am
Arteries.

But having well pconfidered the fub j
ftance, quality, and fituation of thefi
Glands , we judged their formation not t(|
be in vain 5 but that their Ufe, in all like
lyhood , was to receive the humiditie j
both of the Brain , the Eyes , and th<
neighbouring parts ; and that their dif
charge was very convenient and even ver|
neceffary to the parts, which receive tha
liquor, as well for moiftening the ligament
of the great Teeth, and to keep them iij
a condition of bending, atfuch timewhei
the Viper will bite, and to increafe th|

Teeth

(35)

Teeth, which Nature hath made and fe£

In the midft of this Juyce. *

For the reft, examining and rafting the
^ Glands as well as the Juyce, we found a
h Tafte altogether like that of the Gums,

5 vhich Signor Redi hath defcribed, namely
'tyery near the tafteof the Oyle of Al-
Pjnonds, without any bitternefs, though it
^ eave, a while after, a little acrimony in the
nouth3fuch as may be difcerned in all kind
,Jl)f Spitle.

& As to the fmall Glands , which Signor
ledi hath obferved at the bottom of the
lC!/efides that contain this Juyce, I can
ay, that I have with great care and dili-
“ ;ence fearched them, and that, ’tis true,

= have there found the appearances of
t Hands, but having opened them, I faw no-
thing in them but fmall teeth which were
ti< iftned there, and are of the number of
i hofe, which I have called Expeffavts ,
di 'ithout finding any thing of a Glandular
M ature there, nor that did, intheleaft.ap
h roach to the fhape, fubftance or qualities
■“If the Glands , which I have been defer i-
“! ing.

h The Viper is not the onely among Ser- ..
t ents,that hath Salival Glands 5 for I have
D 2 alfo

( 3&)

alfo found of them in the Head of Snakes,
which Glands were heaped together long«
wayesj and fcituated near each outwarc
upper Jaw, ferving them for a defence, ii
a manner, as the Dog-teeth do to Vipers.

T efe confiderations, fupported by ma
ny Experiments, made by u ,and to be re-
lated hereafter have induced me to cal
thefe Glands Salival , and to aferibe t<
them the very fource of that yellow Li
quor, which hath been fo much decryed
and with-all fo little known , and is no
thing elfe, but a pure and very innocen
Spittle. I hope, that thofe, who fhali tak
the pains of carefully examining, after me
thefe Glands ^ and this juyc of the Gum;
will not flick to give me their fuffrages,

CHAF

0?)

CHAP. IV.

Of the other Hones of a
VIPER, and the prin~
cipalcPartsi thence depend -
ing.

THe great number of Bones, which
reft in the Body of a Viper after

thofeof the Head, confifts only
in the Vertebras or Joints of the
Back-bone, and the Ribs, Thefe joints
begin at the hind-part of the Skull , to
which the firft is articulated 5 the other are
ranged confecutively , ftrongly joined to
one another, and they continue to the end
of the Tayle. Every Viper, both Male
and Female, hath an hundred and forty five
Vertebras from the end of the Head to the
beginning of the Tayl -,and T o hundred
. and fourfcore and ten Ribs, which is the
1 double number of the Vertebras ; to each
of which there are articulated two Ribs,
one to each fide, which are bent, and do
D 3 embrace

(33)

embrace the vital and natural parts of a Vi-
per, and each point whereof Vendevoufes at
one of the ends of the great Scale under the
belly, which is fit for both; fo that' there
are as many great Scales under the belly,
from the end of the Head unto the begin-
ning of the Tayle, as there are Vertebra' s,
contorted by their two Ribs: Befides that,
there are twenty five Vertebras from the
beginning of the Tayle to the end there-
of; and thofe Vertebra’s have not any Ribs,
but, inffead thereof,litt!e JpopbyfeSj or Pre-
cedes, which leffen in their magnitude , as
the Vertebra's do, tending towards the ex-
tremity of the Tayle.

There are four great Mufdes, very firm
and very long , which take their origine
from the hind-partof the Head, and de-
fcend,two of them on each fide of the
Sp nal Proceffes, one joining to the Spine,
and the other to the fide and a little below
the firff, which it accompanies all along un-
*o the end of the Tayle. There are alfo
two great Mufdes of the like length,which
are fa fin’d to the inferiour part of the Ver -
tebrd s,and accompany them from one end
to the other, as well as the fuperiour ones.
We alfo obfeive, on each fide., as many in-

tercofial

(.&)

tereoftal Mufcles, as there any Vertebras ,
ferving for the fame ufe,thit rhofe of other
Animals do, which fever theRibbs from
the place of their root unto (heir point . All
thefe Mdfcles are alfo accompanied with
n- veins and arteries, as well as thegreateft.

CHAPT.

C4o)

i CHAP. V.

Of the other Internal parts of
a Viper.

Of the Tongue,

THe Tongue, which the Viper darts
out and draws in often and very
quick, prefents her felf firft of all.
She is placed between the two
Jaws below) and compofed of two Bodies,
flefhy, long and roundilh, and terminating
in very (harp and flexible points. Thefe
two Bodies are contiguous, and adhere to
one another all along, from the place of
their root as far as to the two third parts
of their length. The inward half of thefe
Bodies is of the colour of flefh, but theo-
ther half, I mean that which is often thruft
out, is of colour blackifh.

The Tongue may be, in all, an inch and
an half long8 Its root begins half an inch

lowe]

(40

lower than the bottom of the TJiroatf
and ’tis firmly annex’d , below the Neck, to
two tendinous bodies, which are two or
three lines long.

There are feme Vipers, whofe Tongues
have three points,^nd fotne alfo, that have
four. Thefe points, though often darted
out, prick not, nor hurt any body 5 though
perhaps they may frighten the ignorant.
They chiefly ferve Vipers to catch thefe
fmall creatures, which they have a mind
to devour. The Tongue is envelop'd by
a kind of (heath from one end to the other*

Sect. 2.

Of the Wind-pipe and the Lungs.

*T*He Wind-pipe hath its beginning at the
A entrance of the Throat, where it pre-
fents a hole in an Oval, raifed on high, and
having as ’twere a little beak in its lower
parr. It is compofed, at its entrance, of
many griftly rings, joyned to one another -
which continue about the length of a good
inch, and fall into the right fide of ••the Vi-
per, where they meet with the Lungs 5 and
from that place you fee no more but the

half

(■(4*5

half rings turn’d upfide down, which be*
ing joyned on both fides to the membrans,
that depend from the Lungs, and which are
annexed to it below from one end to the
other, being aflifted by the faid" Lungs,
ferve for Refpiration , and continue their
rank and their connexion, as far as to the
fourth part of the Liver, which lies under
it 5 as well as the Heart. The Winde-
pipe is in all eight or nine inches long; and
at the place, where its half rings end, it is
united with a membrane, which attradls
and receives the Air, as far as to the begin-
ning of the inteftins, where it forms, as it
were, a roundifh bottom of a fack.

The Lungs , being joyn’d to the Wind-
pipe, and making with it one Body, are
confequently fituate, as it, on the right
fide. T hey begin, where the whole rings
of the Winde-pipe do end. They are
made in the form of a Net ; they have no
Lobes at all 5 they are red, very clear and
very vivid, of a fubflance fine enough, fuf-
ficiently tranfparent and alitlerough.They
are faftned by Membrans to the upper part
of the%nperfe<5t rings*, being feven or eight
inches Tong, and about one inch broad; and
all over embroidered with veins and arte-
ries. SECT*

(43)

Sect. 3.

^ *

' Of the Heart , and the Liver .

THe Heart and the Liver are alfo fea-
red on the right fide of the Viper-
and before the Heart there is, about the
third part of an inch, a little flelhy and flat-
i tifh body, of the bignefs of a little pea,
which is filled with water} this little body
is placed under the Lungs as well as the
Heart and the Liver, and is fufpended by
the fame membrans , which fupport it : it
may be taken for a kind of Thymus or ker-
nel, and may ferve for the fame ufes.

The Heart is feated about four or five
inches below the beginning of the Lungs 5
of the bignefs of a fmall beane : it is fome-
whatlong, flelhy, and encompafted with its
pericardium^ which confifts of a fufficient-
ly thick tunicle. It hath two Ventricles,
one on the right, the other on the left fide r
it alfo hath two apertures. The Blood,
which comes from the vena cava , enters
into the right ventricle, and being pafied
into xbe left, ifiiies thence by the Aorta ,
y?hich prefently is divided into two great

branches,

(w)

branches, one of which afcends into the
upperparts, and the ocher, parting below
the Oefofbagus or Wefand, and taking irs
way Hoping, Tubdivideth it felf aft.erwards
into many other branches, which fpread
themfelves and are carried to all the parts,
to the very end of the Tayle.

The Liver is a flelhy part, of colour red-
brown, feated half an inch beneath the
Heart, and fupported by the fame mem-
brans: its length and breadth are unequal
enough, but the greateft Livers, I have
feen, are five or fix inches long, and half
an inch large. It confifts of two great lobes
of ^which the right defcends a good inch
lower then the left. T hefe two lobes are
bedew’d by the vena cavay which feems
to feparate them all along into two bodies,
and which makes even a reparation in their
lower half, running in their interftice- and
ferving to joyn them together in one body:
The upper half of the Liver is continued,
and cannot be divided but by cutting it
afunder.

The Trunk of the venacav* is divided
into two branches in its upper part , of
which the main and biggeft endeth in the
Heart, and the other pafleth under the

Lungs,

(45)

Langs, and from thence into the fuperiour
parts. This Vein in its inferiour.part is di-
^rided into many branches, which defeend
into allxhe parts below.

A Viper is deftitute of a Z)UphrAgmey
there being no folid traverfing tunicle at
all, that fevers the vital parts from the
natural : yet it may be faid that that fine
tunicle, which depends from the Wind-
pipe and theLungs,and goestdown towards
the Inteftins, and there forms, as ’twere,
the fhape of afack-bottom, may infome
manner peform the fundion thereof.

sect;

(40

I

«

•c Sect. ^

Of the Gall^and the P ancreasy which
the Antients called the Spleen.

THe Bladder of Gall is fituate an inch
below the Liver, and on the fide of
the bottom of the Stomack, and it leans
to the left fide. It is almoft of the ihape
and bignefs of a fmall Bean lying fter.

The Gall is very green} its tafte very bit->
ter and lharp 5 its confidence approaching
to that of a Syrup not much boyled.

I have found in the Bladder of Gall but
one out-let by a fmall veflel, which ifiuing
from the inward fide of its upper part, is
bent from its origine, and defending, and
adhering, even in its beginning, to the in-
ternal part of this Bladder, is afterwards di-
vided into two branches, of which the
principal and dire&eft, palling through
that Body ( which the Antients have taken
for the Spleen) runs into the Inteftin, which
receives it 5 and the other lelfer branch,
turning about, feems to remount to the
Liver, but dividing itfelf into many fmall
branches, becomes fo indifcernablej than
it cannot be iollowed any longer. It

(47)

It is not here, that I will refute the opi-
nion of the Antients concerning the Veno-
mous quality they have afcribed to the
1 GalU Heave that for another place, where
I fhall endeavour to maintain the Balfa-
i mique quality of this Joyce, and fhew, that
i ’tis free from all kind of poyfon.

The Pancreas or Sweet-bread, which all
; Authors have called the Spleen, is placed
: near and a very little below the Gall, and
on the right fide of the V iper. It is of the
. bignefs of a good Pea, of a feemingly flefhy
fubftance, but indeed Glandular. Confi-
dering its fituation (which is dofe to the
bottom of the Stomach and towards the
entry of the Guts) together with its ker-
nelly fubftance, it maketh me believe, that
'tis rather a Pancreas than a Spleen i but yet
I leave the decifion of it to thofe, who fhall
take the pains to examine it.

I

SECT,

'

(48)

Sect.

Of the Oefophagns or Weafand ' and
the Stomach .

THe otfofhagtis takes its beginning
at the bottom of the Throat ; its
fituation is on the left fide, and its paflage
direftly on the fide of the Lungs and the
Liver, as far as to its union with the orifice
of the Stomach. It is made up of one onely
membrane, very foft,and eafy to be exten-
ded, and which may be fwell’d even to the
bignefs of two inches. It is this part, which
firft receives the animals, the Viper hath
killed with its great teeth, and fwallowed
whole, it being proper for that purpofe,both
by its large capacity, and by its length3|
which is of a good foot.

The Stomack, which is next, is as 'twerei
fowed at its bottom, and feems to make
but one Body with the Oefophagut 5 but|
yet is much thicker, and compofed of two
ftrong coats, one within the other, and
flicking to one another. The thicknefs
of its coats makes, that it cannot be fwell’d
£© the fame bignefs .with the oefophagut ?j

1 4S0

or it cannot much exceed the bignefso£*
n inch. It is between three anti, tour in-
ih$S long 5 its orifice is fufficiently large.,
s well as> its middle, but the bottom of
£ grows freighter, and is commonly very
lofe and firm, not opening it felf, but to
je&its excrements into the Gutts. Its.
nternal tunicle is full of rugofities when
ids empty, and in it there are very often
5 aund little worms of the length and thick-
i efs of (mall pins. The Stomach is feated

!n the left fide, as the Oe fop hag us *, but,
he bottom of it is turned towards the
iiddle of the Body, to empty itfelf into
:fijhe firftGut.

T he length and capacicyof the Oefophi -
and the largenefs of the entry of the
tl tomach, are very well accommodated to
:h he*.flature of the Viper, which fends no-*
ding chew’d to the Stomach, but (wallows
;n Lnlmals whole for its food^and when home
rk( f them happen to be longer than the
)il epth of the Stomach, part ot them ftayes
wo It the Oefopbagus, untill the Stomach have
imxtra&ed and fent away the juyce of the
icfiarts devoured, which it coal • hold-, after
’I'hich it receives thofe that flay’d in the
tfopbagus. But this requires agoodfpaee'
tot E of

(50)

of time', in regard that the Stomach is
not clofed, and cannot gather any con-
fiderable heat to make a fpeedy dige«|
flion.

Sect. 6.

below .

THE inteftins of Vipers are fituate ir
the midft of the Body , under th<
Back-bone, and immediately after th<
bottom of the Stomach. I have onelj
obferved three of them, of which the firli
and narroweft may be called the Duode-
num ; the fecond, which is larger^and ful
of many windings, may be called the Co
lon'-y and the third and laft, the Return
which alfo is very large and very {freight
and hath its aperture below and near thi
beginning of the tayle, at which the Ex
crements pafs away.

Thefe Inteftins have, at their fides, Te\
I Idles , together with their veftelsj botho,

th<

(Si)

the Males and Females, and the tv^o bo-
dies of the Matrix of the latter, which we
iifall fpeak of hereafter. They contain alfo
xhzktinpmth. their vefiels-Avhich part from
thence, and are ar companied of their veins
and arteries, as alfo all vtflels ferving for ge=
aeration ^ and the Inttftins themfelves arf
not deftitute of them.

The kidneys are placed below the Teflh
:les 5 they are made up of many glandti-
ous bodies, contiguous,and ranged long-
vayes, one after another. They are com-
aonly two inches and an half long, and
wo 1 nes snd an half large upon the round,
/hich is a little flat. They are of a pale-red
olour. T he right kidney is alwayes feated
igher than the lower in both fexes. T hey
ave alfo their Ureters , at which they dif-
;harge theferofities near the extremity of
1 lelnteftin.

1 Allthe Inteftins, theTeflicIes, and the
f dneys are covered with a very white and
ury ioft Fat , which being melted hath
ie form of Oyle. At times alfo there is
1 en in fome Vipers a little Fat about the
eart, the Lungs, the Liver, but efpecial-
clofe to the Gall, and near that parr5
;trhieh fome take for the Spleen^ and others
E % for

rf _ »

( 5* )

for the Venerea. All thefe parts are wrap-
ped about with a ftrong Coat, that is firm-
ly faftned to the extremities of the Ribbs,5
which might pafs for ihtEpiploon^i theFat
wertjoynedtoit: butastne V’per, which
is a kind of Serpent, pafieth not but among
the imperfed animals, I (hall not determine
the name of this Tunique, to which the
more Intelligent may give what name they
(hall think moft proper.

CHAP

CHAPT. VI.

Of the parts of Vipers , that:
ferve for generation ,

; r

Sect. x.

Of the Parts of the Male ,

r 8 aHE Male hath two Tefticles, which
J. are fomewhat long and ioundilh,and
' (liai pen a little toward both ends. Their
:olour is white, and their fubftance glandu-
ar .Their length is unequal, the right being
ongerby an inch, than the left, and this
, lfo fomewhat lefs in thicknefs, They are
lot thicker than the quill of the wing
>f a great Capon. Their fituationisdiffe-
ent-,for>the right begins near and beneath
he Gall, whereas the left begins about
ight lines lower than the right. They are
oth fufpended in their upper part by two
:rong membrans, coming from below the
E 3 Gall,

Gall, apd are ordinarily covered with fat,
which maketh them hardly difcernable,by
reafon of the likenefs of colour they haveJ
with this fat.

From themidft of each of thefeTefti-
des, from the inward part, one may fee if-
fue forth a little Body, long and flender.fo-
lid enough, and even fomewhat whiter than
the fubftance of the Tefticles, which de-
fcends, and is fafined to them all along as
far as to their lower end. It may be called
the Epididymis . There appears at the
end of each, the beginning of a fmall ftrad-
lingvtfTel, that may be called fpe rmatique
becaufeof its office 5 which is a little flat,
very white, and fhining enough, and corm
monly filled with feed, having the form of
a milky juyce. ThisvefTel is Efficiently
delicate, and winds in its paffage, after the
lhape'ofm3ny Ss joyned together, very
pleafant to behold. From thence it de-
fends between the Inteftin and the kid-
ney, whoteUreter it follows unto the hole
of t e laft Gut, at which the Excrements
pafs away. It is aifo accompanied of veins
and arteries from one end to the other, a;
well as theTefhcIes, anditceafeth to b<
wind j jg a little before it coines to the aper-

(S5 J

ture of the Gut. Each ofthefe twc? fper-
matique veftels comes to rendevoufe at its
[proper receptacle of feed} of which there
Jare two,* that may be called Par abates ,
which are like white kernels, each of the
i length, bignefs and fhape of a grain of Car -
1 daus bencdittut feed. Thefe kernels are

I feated longways below and between the
two natural parts: they are always full of

I I milky juyce, and altogether like that of
I :he fpermatique veftels, juft now defcribed:

' ind tofurnifh for ejaculation at the time of
‘ :he Coitus , they tranfmit the feed, which
! :hey contain, into the ejaculatory pipes of
■ :he two natural parts, neighboring to them .
I I may fay on this occasion, that thofe

vho have taken thefe two Confervatories
)f feed for other Tefticles, have much de-
' :eived themfelves in the opinion, they
lave entertained, that, there being two na-
; :ural parts, there muft alfo be for each of
; hem two tefticles : But their fubftance be-
ng quite different from the true tefticles,

! >y us defcribed, and their office beiog to
eceive, and not to form, we do not ac-
knowledge them but for Parajlates ?

L vhich by little and little receive the
! >eed,fent thither by the Tefticles, and re-
fer ve

(50

ferve.it, and keep it ready for the time of
copulation-, and to perform that in a mo-
ment, and feafonably, what the fperma-
tiqne Veflels would not be able to execute
jib foon,nor fo well,becaufe of their length
and windings.

The Male hath two Penes's altogether
alike, which being pulled out are each as
long as the Taylcfthe animal. Their ori-
gine cometh from the extremity of the
Tayle, under which they are feated all
along, the one by the other. They go in-'
creafing in bignels, as the Tayle does$ ai
the beginning of which they end, and they
have their iffue near and at the fide of one
another, and clofe to the opening of the
|nteftin, which maketh it] a manner theii
fepnration,

Each of thefe is compofed of two long
and firtulous bodies, feated together one
by the other, and which joyn towards the:]
top inone body, which is environ- d witl:
its prepuce, and hath its Mufcles Eretfors.
as many other Animals have, thefe part:
are within full of many rtings or pricks, ve-
ry white and hard, and very fha.rp, fofer
as that they have their (harp end variouflj
turned 3 of which the bipnefs and thick

C 27 >

nets anfwers to the place of the qaturat
part, where they are fet, fo that as the top
is bigger and thicker, the faid flings are fo
too i and they advance and appear noc
but when the prepuce, which covers them,

: fhrinks down at the time of thetanimals dif-
pofition tothecoir.

Thefe natural parts are ordinarily hid-
den, and they fwell not, nor come forth,
but for the coit 5 unlefs it be, that , the
animal being taken, they be forced out by
prefixing them •, for in that cafe one may fee
them both come forth equally, each about
the thicknefs of a date , and of the length:
of two thirds thereof, and their top is alto-
gether covered and quite befet with thefe
pricks, like the skin of a Porcupin 5 and
thefe flings retire and hide themfelves un-
der the prepuce, when one ceafethto prefs
them.

The iffue of thefe two parts is environ’d
with a very ftrong and thick Mufcle, to
which the skin is firmly faftned, and infuch
a manner that it is very difficult tofeparate
it therefrom : which fame Mufcle ferwth
alfo to open and fliuc the Intefrin, j/

S ECT,

(S3)

Sect. 2.

(c

Of the parts of the Female Viper th at
fervefor Generation .

Femal Viper hath two Tefticles,
J§_ as the Male; but they are longer
and bigger. They are featea onthefides
and near the bottom of the two Bodies of
the Matrix, and the right is higher than |
the left, as'tisinMales. Their Subftance
and colour alfo are very like them. The
right is about one inch and an half long, and
two lines and an half large t the left is
fomething lefs. They ha^e their Efidi-
tlywis, and their SpermatiquV vefTels, that
convey the feed into the two Bodies of the
Matrix, and which are much fhorter than
thofe of the Males. Yet I obferve, that
thefeTefticles appear not always fuch in all
Females, efpecialiy in thofe that are emaci-
ated, either by ficknefs, or by long keep-
ing ; for, their Tefticles fhorten, {heighten,
and^iy, like as in thofe, whofe Eggs are al-
ready great? having obferv’d, that inthefe
the Tefticles are much fhortned anddryed
up, as alfo that they are defcended lower,

al-

(59)

although the right be alwayes founjl high,
er than the left.

The Matrix begins in a body pretty
thick,w,hich is compos’d of two ftrong tu-
nicies, and which being feated above the
inteftin, hath in the fame place its o ifice,
which is large, and doth eafily dilate, to
receive at one and the fame time, by the
fame aperture, the two Penis's of the
Male, in the Copulation. This Body is
about the bignefs of a nail of a middle-
fized finger, and is divided very near its
’ beginning into two fmall baggs open at
3 the bottom, and fram’d by Nature to re-
ceive and embrace the two members of
the Male in the coit. Their interiour coae
is full of rugofities, and very hard, as is
that of the whole body, which we have
fpokenof; fo that fhe fuffers, and alfo feels
pleafure from, the pricking of the little
Bings of the Male’s members, without be-
ing hurt thereby, although their points be
veryfharp.

The Matrix begins by thefe two little
facks or baggs to be divided into two bo-
; dies, which afcend each on its fide along
the kidneys, and betwixt them and the
inteflins, as fair as to the bottom of the

Sto-

(6o)

Stomach , where they are fufpended by
ligaments, which come from about the Li-
ver, being alfo fuftained , from fpace to
fpace, by divers fmall ligaments, that come
from the Back-bone. Thefe two bodies
are compofed of two tunicles, that arefoft,
thin, and tranfparent, being one within
th’ other, T heir beginning is at the bot-
tom of thofe two fmall bags, which em-
brace the two members of the male, from
whence they receive the feed each from its
fide, to breed Eggs of it, and fo young
Vipers, by the conjunction of their own
feed, which the tefticles fend thither.

T hefe two Bodies of the Matrix do ve-
ry eafily dilate themfelves, that they may
contain many young Vipers, unto the time
of their perfection : notwithftanding the
opinion of fome, who have affirm’d, that
the Matrix of a Viper had but one onely
body 5 that it was feated in the m idle, and
#11 along the Back-bone, and that there
were in it dilfinCt Bodies to hold the Eggs,
#nd the young Vipers, which bodies were
dependants of this Matrix. But, I believe,
that the ground of their miftske hath been,
in that thofe true bodies of the matrix, be-
ing very delicat. and very tranfparent, efpe-

cially

(6i)

dally when they are fwell’d and diftended
j by (he Eggs, or the Vipers, by them con-
> tained, have not pafled in their opinion for
| true bodies of the Matrix , and that they
i have taken for it the inteftins, which are
. featfed in the middle, and appear pretty
i bigg and thick, and feern to make but
■ one and the fame body with the firft thick
body of the matrix , under which the be-
i ginning erf the foil intelf in is fated and
i rested.

The Viper ’ is not the onely animal, thal
i hath her matrix divided into two like Bo-
dies, equally placed each on its fide , and
along the Guts, which feparate them; for
1 have obferv’d the fame thing in many
Snakes, which I have open’d purpofely to
know the truth hereof.

c*o

c.

* Sect. 3.

Of the Generation and Production of
young Vipers .

BY the particular defcription, we have
made of the parts ierving the Viper
for generation, is is eafy to renounce all
the Fables we finde in Books, concerning
the copulation of Vipers, and theprodu-
dion of the young Vipers: fo that l fhall
not trouble the Reader any further with
them, but onely intimate, That by the
means of rhe insertion of both members
of the Male into the two baggs of the Ma-
trix 5 by the ejaculation of the Seed,made
of them both together, into the two bo-
dies of the faid Matrix , which are united
at the bottom of the baggs 5 and by the
concurrence of the Femals own feed which
her tefticles emit at the time of the coit;
the Eggs are firft formed in both the bo-
dies of the Matrix : that each is covered
by its little tunide 5 that the Eggs of each
body of the Matrix are altogether wrap-
ped up in one common membrane, com-
monly

C«3)

i monly called the Ovarium 5 that all, is in*
dofed in its proper body, the Matrix ; thae
the Eggs there take their increaffcjthatthe
' young V.ipers are there formed and perfe&~
ed? that* thence they come forth one after
[another by the fame paflage, where the
feed of the Male went in5 and that they ar«
produc’d alive, as many other animals, with*
out any need of the intervention of the
dam’s death.

We can allure the truth of all thefe par-
ticulars, having verified them by an accu®
rate examination of all the parts, at feve®
! sl times, and upon a great number of fub®
| je&s 5 and having feen the extenfion and
| fwelling of thofe two bodies of the Matrix,
sven at the time when the young Vipers
ivere perfected and ready to come forth »
indlaftly having feen the paflage free, by
vhich they were to come abroad, and the
, poung ones a&ually produced without any
| danger to the Dam.

We have noted, that the right body of
:he Matrix of the Viper is ordinarily fuller
j )f Eggs and young brood, than the left 5
that the number ofEggs is pretty unequal?
:hat at times there are twenty or twenty
5ve,fometimes but half fo many j that the

young

(64)

young Vipers take' their form and perfe *
&icn in the Egg 5 that there they are fea-
ted and entangled divers wayes, and after
a very plealant manner 5 that tjiey have
each within their Egg a kind of after-birth
depending from their Navil,by which they
draw their foou 5 that in coming abroad
they train it alter them, and in part are en-
compafted with it$ and that their Dam frees
them thereof, and cleanfeth them by lick-
ingfthem when they are born.

But although we have, as exa&Iy as we
could, defcribed all the inward and'outwarc
parts of a Viper, both of a Male and Fe-
male ? yet to the end that all may be the
better underftood,we fliall addrefs the Rea-
der to' the following Schemes, wherinhe
may fee the fame parts, we have juft now
defcribed represented and drawn to the life,
together with their explication in the 7*4-
blts accompanying them > hoping, that be
will there find fijtisfa&ion.

7k

C«S)

.

be Reader is de fired to take not lie , tbaf
having on the Frontifpice of this Book
reprefeMed two Vipers, ^ Male and a Fe-
male 0 conjoined tempore coitus , and
j there being in the exteriour part of
their Body no ccnfiderable difference in
the one from the other, but in their T style,
of which the reprefentation may be feen
feparately in the fecond Figure • I thought
it nee die fs , to exhibit the whole Figure
of a Male by it (elf ; and have contented
my felf to have engraven the Female
' in the (late fie is at the time when (he
produceth her young ones , which is that,
which feemd to me the mo(i con ftder able
for her txte>iour Figure.

He will alfo fad no fault with the Si-
tuation,which the \ iper isreprefent-
ed in the Cutt, at the time when her young
' ones come forth, fince that befides the Sym-
metry, which hath been there induflnoufj
obferv d, it was alfo intended to (hew there-
, in the parts , that feem'd very neceffa'j't#
me, and that could not be reprefented e'fc -
i! where *

the EXPLICATION of what ,

repefented in the fir fi Scheme,-

AAA, The Female Viper , bringin
forth her young Vipers, exhibiting ti
lowermod part of her Body *, where yc
may fee the great Scales, on which
creepeth.

BB B B. Four young Vipers, each in or
of rhecorneisofthe Cut, appearing wre,
thed,and in the fame pofture and fituatio
wherein we have feen them alive and reac
to come forthj two of which appear wit!
out cover, one cover’d with its Coat, ai
the other having a piece of its After-bid
depending from its Navel.

C C CC. Four other young Vipers, wit
in the round, which the Viper formetj
one of which appears creeping, and eld
of its Secundinei the other having it y
depending from its Navel * - the thif
coming forth, and training along with
the Secundine- and the lad: wrap’d abq
by it, and in the date, wherein ic was,wh
ready to be born,

Z>

(67)

X) D, A part of a Female Viper, ?epre~
imted open onder the belly iogg-wayes,
nd turned upfide down, from the place of
be Gall*, unto the Orifice of thz-Ma-
rix*

E. The Gall.

F, The Pancreas or Sweet- bread, which
>any have taken for the Spleen,

1 G. The bottom of the Stomach,
j H. The beginning of thelnteftins.

1,1,1, The Eggs contain’d in the two
Ddies of the Matrix, but being found in
far greater plenty in the right, than the
ft body.

K. A part of thelaft Gut.

L. The Orifice of the Matrix, and of
le Gut,

M M. The two little Baggs, which join
i the beginning of the two bodies of the
'atrix,

NN, A part of each of the Kid-

:-ys.

' 1 ; 1 A>

i r 'i

V 3 fit

(<58)

(

The EXPLICATION of what is n-
frefentcd in the fecond Scheme ,

A A. The firft half of the body of a
Male Viper, flead, turn’d upfide down, and
open under the belly from one end to the
other, containing

BB. The Wind-pipe.

CC. The Lungs.

D. The Thymus or Kernel,

E. The Heart.

F. The Liver.

G. The great Vein, call’d Vena cava
HH. The oefophagus or Weafand.

/. The afcenaing branch of the Aorta
Li The descending branch of the (am

Artery.

M. The Stomach.

NN Theotherhalf of the Body, i
ehe fame condition with the firft,' contain
ing

O. The bottom of the Stomach,

P. The bladder of Gall.

^ The Pancreas^or, according to fomi
ghe Spleen.

' &RA, The Inteftfas,

Os>)

S S. The Teftides, together witji their

Epididjmis.

TT. The Spermatick VefTels.
rr, J he Kidneys.

a a. The Tayle of a Male, to which are
iinnext the parts that follow.

bb. The two members of Generation,
:s they come forth at the time of the
Coit.

c c, T he two FarajtateS) or Confervato-
ies of the Seed.

dd. The two Spermatique VefTels.

| e e, ThetwoTefticles.

//. The two Epididymes,

m- The Guts-

b h. T he two Kidneys.
ii, The Tayle of a Female, to which
re join’d the parts following.

//. The Orifice of the Matrix,
mm. The two fmall Baggs.
nnnvt. The two bodies of the Ma~
i*.

5 eo. The two T eftides with their Epidi°
ymeSj and Spermatique VefTels.
pp. The Inteftins.
qq. The two Kidneys.
rr. A great part of the body of a
j.izard, of the fame length and bignefs, it
F 3 was

(7°)

wis vomited up by a Viper, many dayes af-

ter this had been taken.

s s. The reft of the Head, and the reft o:
the Fore-legs of the Came Lizard, paft up a
the fame time.

1 1. The Oefopbagw, that had contains
the faid great part of the Lizard.

tin. The Stomach, that had contain’c
and by little and little extracted the juyci
fubftance of the left of this Animal'
body.

The EXPLICATION ef what is o

hibited in the third Scheme,

A. A whole Sceleton of a Viper.

B. T he Head having its Throat clofe
reprefented with a part of its Neck.

C. The Head having its > hroatin pa
open,flead on its fide, and there prefer j
ing the Salival Glands , together wi;
their LymPh.4ick veilels , above the gre
Teeth.

D. The Head without Neck,reprefer:
cd with the Throat open.

E. Another Head withour Neck, m<
open, and diftinftly (hewing all its inter
parts that can be there reprefented , a

whi

(71)

/hich may be eafily underflood in reading
he places, where I (peak of them.
ii| F. The whole Skull of a Viper.

: G. The inferiour part of this feparatfid
ikull, *

H. The conglomerate S alival GlanA\

Jeprefented with their Ljmjthatick veflels,®
ittle bigger than the natural, to make
hem the better to be underfiood , and as
ivell as their fmallnefs permits.

I. T he fame Salival Glmds $ the two
Eyes with their Optick Nerves 5 the five
todies of the Brain, and that of the Spinal
Marrow, adhering together, fever’d from
he Crane, and reprefented by the face
above.

i X. The fame bodies joined together, re-’
)refented by the face below.

M. Divers great Teeth,fome by them-

! elves, fome in their bag, others accompa-
lied by the Teeth Exfyeffants, which are
et beneath them in the fame bag.

i\T. The upper Jaw articulated to a
‘mall bone, which by its other end is articu-
lated to the root of the great Tooth,
uj 0. The lower Jaw,, confiding of two
bones, and articulated to the lower bone of
; the Clavicle bent like an Elbow, which de~
F 4 pends

(?2 )

pends from the pofteriour lateral part of th
Skull.

P. The Lungs with the Wind-pipi
without the body. <•

JL The Heart in its Pericardium or in
doling Membrane.

R. The Liver feparated in two Lobe:
by the Vena Cava .

S. T he bladder of Gall, with the veffe
that carrieth its juyce into the Inteftins.

T. The Pancreas or Sweet* bread5 whicf
fome take for the Spleen.

F. The Inteftins,

EXPERIMENTS

(73)

EX PERI M E.NTS

* ABOUT

VIPERS.

CHAPT. I.

The Biting of a Viper , bapned
to a Alan ,

N the Month of June of the
year 1668, I procured a great
number of live Vipers, Males
and Females, to put the de-
fign in execution, I had pur-
Ipofed to my felf 5 Which was, to know in
truth all the good and all the evil, a Viper
ivas capable of. I was nappy though in
Jxciting the Curiofity of many intelligent
^erfons, and amongft others, of fome

Phy-

(74)

Phyfitjans of my acquaintance J very
knowing and fagacious, who were pleafed
to take the pains of coming to my houfe
every day, to affift in ^thefe experiments ,
and to impart to me t heir diredi ions.

The firft Meeting of all proved a fad
one by a furprifing mis-fortune. A certain
Forrainer, drawn to fee our Experiments
by his own curiofity, felt in his own per-
fon, contrary to his expectation, a great
pare of the grievous accidents, which may
be caufed by Vipers, and furn fht us, fore
againft our wills, with an Experiment,
which was followed with circumftances
too confiderable to be fuppreftedi and I
thought my felf obliged to recite them
firft of all, becaufe it was not onely the
firft, but the onely, that hath furnifht us
with more remarkable things, than all the
reft.

This Gentleman, of 25 years of age,
had been by chance the day before at my
houfe, when five or fix douzen of Vipers
were brought thither. He would needs
fee them immediately, and I, being defi-
rous to fasrisfie his Curiofity, drew out ol
the Veftel one of the Vipers. He was not
contented to fee her, but took her in his

hand.

C 7? )

hand, and kept her there for about a great
quarter of an hour,fufferng her to turn and
Iwinde herfelf about his hand and arm, the
Viper not fo much as offering to bite him.'
Then he tyed her about her neck , and fo
having hanged her, pulled off her skin,and
emptied her of her Guts to examine them.

I am allured, that he would have been
foundly bitten at that time, if the Viper
[ had been vexed 5 but not having been fo,
ij and being pleafed to breath another air
than that of the VefTel,where fhe had been
long fhut in, fhe let herfelf be tyed, after
which (lie could not do[that mifchief, which
certainly fire would have done,if fhe had not

Ibeen tyed.

But this proved quite otherwife the next
day-, for this ftranger being come again to
■ my houfe at the hour of the Affembly, he
faw one of the Vipers upon the Table,
which had been held a long while between
Pincers, and was much angred. He would
take her with his naked hand, though he
J was earneffly warn’d to forbear, it being
reprefented to him. that he had been too
bold already the day before. He had no
fooner taken her in his hand, but fhe turn’d
f her head to bite him, and with one of her

great

(7<0

great bent teeth, fhelaid hold on the late-
ral inward part of his right thumbe, a little
above the'fituation of the nail. The prick-
ing appear’d no more than that of a pin ;
and it feem’d to us not deep, and on the
furface we only faw a very (mail hole with
a very little rednefs > fo that it was not dif-
cernable but by its colour. There was not
ufow^mx about this litle hole, any fign of that
yellow liquor contain’d in the baggs about
the great teeth, and which is wont to be
fhed upon the wound, when a Viper biteth |
deep* yet the pricking caufed fome pain to
him at the very Hr ft, but the finger fwell’d
not of it, no intumefcence appearing but
fome hours after, as we (hall relate more
amply In the fequel.

It was found proper to fcarify the part
wounded, and to make ftrong ligatures
above the place bitten., both to ftop the
effe&s of the Venom, and to difcharge
the wounded part of the fame^ but the
Patient oppofed thefe means, not believ-
ing them neceftary 5 and he could very
hardly be perfwaded to endure any fcarifi-
cation; after which, he endured alfo an
iron fpatule very hot and heated over and j
over again, held very near to the prick 'e

( 77 )

place 5 which was done, to keep the pores
open, and to fetch back and draw out Tome
part of the poyfon: Mean while, we made
:he Patient take two drachms of Theriaque
in half a glafsof Wine.

In lefs then half a quarter of an hour
after the pricking, the patient felt fome
debility, and call'd for a chair; he wax’d
at the fame time very pale, and his pulfe
was found very low, very quick, and even
interrupted. Thefe accidents were fol-
lowed by convulfive motions, and by a ftif-
nefs of his whole body, and chiefly of his
neck, and the mufcles of his head : he then
alfo complain’d of a very great pain to-
wards his Navil; and there appear’d a
coldnefs in his extreme parts, and in the
whole face, which was covered with little
drops of cold fweat : his lips alfo were
fwell’d, efpecially the lower. And find-
ing himfelf urged by the pains about his
Navil, andadifpofitiontogotoftool, he
|rofe, and having voided fome excrements,
fie vaniflf t away , and at the fame time
vomited not only all the T heriaque he had
taken, but all he had eaten at dinner,
which was yet un-digefted* We made
iiafte to fuccour him.and found him fo fee-

C78)

ble, that he was not able to goe up again
to the chamber , whence he was come
down. And in regard his pulfe continu-
ed weak, low, quick, and unequal^ and his
fwoundings frequent , as well as his cold
fweats, it was thought feafonable to give
him a drachm of Viper-powder mThcri -
deal and Carduu x Beneditfus water, and to
apply to him a great Plaifter of Theriaque
upon the Heart and Stomach, but he Toon
reje&ed what he had taken. One alfo
came to give him home of the Orvietan ,
mixt with new powder of Vipers , but
he vomited up that alfo, and defiled to be
put upon a bed, and to have other help ad*-
miniftred to him. During all which time,
he neither wanted his fenfes, nor the ufe
of reafon, notwithftanding all the feeble-
nefs of his Body • and he had had great
averfion to the Orvietan , having no faith
at all in it, and not confenting to take it,
but out ofrefped: to fome of thofe that
were prefent, who had prefled it upon
him.

This vomiting not giving time to the
remedies to convey and communicate their
vertue to the noble parts, it was judged
very proper to have recourfe to the Vola-
tile-

(79)

tile Salt of Vipers , becaufe that being
very volatile and exceeding fit to be quick-
ly conveyed to all the parts, even the moil
remote., the Patient might thence feel the
cffeds with more fpeed and efficacy, than
i from all the other groffer remedies, which
having been re jeded as foon as they were
taken, had not had time to be made *ffe~
dual by the flomach, nor to impart their
vertue where need required.-

We therefore caufed to be diflolv’d a
drachm of this volatile Salt of Vipers in
Theriacal and Cardnu* water , and gave
him about a quart of this mixture-, he kept
it a little while, and then call up a part of
it, mingled with ftore of phlegme very vif-
cous. We made him take another like
quantity of the fame mixture, which he
alfo kept for fome time, and then vomi-
ted up, what might have remain’d of it in
: his Stomach, and amongft it much phlegm.
We continued to give him ftill more of
the fame compoficion as faftas he vomi-
ted it up 5 and there were alfo given him
j feveral Clyfters,toappeafe the violent and
1 ftubborn pains, which he felt about his
h Nayil.

lips remained ftill fwolne, his pulfe
s ’ ’ naught,

1 c_

I

(8o)

naught; and his fweat cold, as well as his
faintings continued very long 5 but having
perfifted in the ufe of the Volatil Salt of
Vipers, his vomiting ceafed, and he kept
the eighth do[e in his belly, which was gi-
ven him about four hours after he received
the mif chief: the fymptoms leffen’d from
that time, the cold began little by little to
retire, and gave place to the natural heat,
which appeared fufficiently about five
hours after the pricking • his pulfe retur* j
ned, and was even and ftrong, but fome-
what high.

It was about ten of the clock at night,
that the mod troublefome accidents dis-
appear'd, the Patient was happy in his
unhappfnefsjin being fpeedily and rational-
ly fuccour’d. I left him not , before his
mortal accidents had ceafed; and then he
was carried to his lodgings, whether I ao* I
companied him, and he was put to bed 5
and by the advice of thofe pe fons, that
frequently vifited him curing his diftem*
per , I made a mixture of one drachm of I
Confection of Hyacinthe , and of as much ,
of the Confection of Alkermes , and of one
ounce of Syrup of Limons, and of four 1
ounces of Cerditm-'mxsX) which was giv’n

)

:m at three times, from three hours to
iree hours. There were given him Ci-
ons to fmell to, and from time' to time
me {lice's of them fugred. He took good
oths, and drank ptifan made with Scor-
,] wera,- roots, and the fhavings of Harts-
Mn, mingled with Syrup of Limons, he
fo drank fometimes a little wine, and
lere was diffolved of the Confection of
Ikermes , fometimes in his broth, fome-
,unes in his ptifane.

This is a thing remarkable enough, that

uring all the great accidents,

his

finger

as not changed, and there appeared not
iy fwelling upon it, but that began,
hen thofe accidents ceafed. In the mean
me, the pains about the navil continued,
.liough they were infome little degree a-
llited; which obliged the Phyfitians often
D prefcribe him Clyfters, His belly was
j little ftiff, but not fwclled *? his tongue
jas whicifh,but not dry *, his eyes faint and
;an5 his countenance pale, and his lips
pllfwelled.

ij The fwelling of the finger extended it
j , if that night over the whole hand* which
pas often anointed with the Oyl of Scor-
pions, compofedby MattbioluSy and mist
G with

(so

wit'h the Queen of Uungaries witter, bi
notwithftanding this anointing, the tuir
part'd onto the arm the next day, with p;
and rednefs, and advanced to the Eye.
was thought fit to apply fomentatic
made with the roots of Angelica , Im\
ratoria, Car Una, and Jriflolochia , and wi
the tops of Scordhtm, Centaur turn y Won
wood, St. Johns wort yCalamint, boyled
White wine, and withal to continue t
anointing with the faid Oyle of Scorpio
among thefe fomentations. Although ti
was done with great care, yet there appe;
ed no great efted upon it ^ the Patient w
fqueamiih, and once vomited up even I
bioth; but this vomiting continued n<
He alvvayes ufed the fame internal ande
ternal remedies, and the fame food 5 tj
although he found his other limbs ini
good condition, and his pulfe very eqi
and moderate, nor had any drought, he:
or pain in the reft of his body, yet was ti
of the Navil obftinates and the fwelli
and the rednefs of the hand and arm fi
increafed; and from the beginning of tj
third day, it had feifed on the fhoulder
the fame ftde, and defended to the an
pir3upon the whole breaft,and all theneig

bouri

(83)

outing parts, and even the whole region
if the Liver, notwithftanding the continual
ife of the fomentations, and the' Oyle of
::corpions4 o

ii All thefe confiderations, joyned to the
ot feafon, wherein we weie, made usap-
irehendjleft the gangrene (hould ftrike to
lofe parts, it was believed, that, fince
le outward remedies which had been jud-
,ed moil expedient, had proved fuccefs-
fs, recourfe muff be had to internal ones* A
hich induced the Phyiitians to give him, ~"
the evening of the third day, a drachm
• the root of Contrary erva in powder, dif-
lv’d in cordial waters, with as much con-
dlion of Alkcrmcs: but wefavv no abate-
entofthe rednefs, fwelling, or pain 5 on
ie contrary, we obferv’d,that the fwelling
em’d to feize on the left fide.

After we had well examin’d all things, we
und it very neceffary to return to the ufe
’ our firft inward remedy, which had
uck the great ftroke,and had had a ma-
jfeft good operation ; I mean, th zVoU~
ii Salt of Vipers. T his was in the morning
\ the fourth day after the bitin?. So we
live him half a drachm of that Salt,difToI*
id in four ounces of Car dims water , and
G 3- we

(84)

we order’d that he fliould be well coverec
to make him fweat. This medicine di
work according to our expectation and d<
fire*, for the Patient not onely d/d fweat ;
bundantly, but found a very confiderab!
amendment in all the ill Symptoms th;
had remain’d. His pain about the na^
was almoft not fenfibie *, the tumor of h
Lips, and that, which was in the regie
of the Liver, Breaft, and under the Am
('s pits, vanifht, and that of the fhou!der,Ar
and Hand was much abated, as well as tl
rednefs and pain.

We thence judg’d,thatwe Ihould certai
ly cure the reft $ and to compafs it,we ga<
the next morning to our Patient a like dc
of that Volatil Salt of Vipers, which ma
him fweat again very largely 5 the pain j
the Navil ceafed altogether 5 the fwi
ling of thelboulder was wholly gone; a]
that of the whole arm and hand was y
much more abated, as well as the redwi
and pain. And not to leave the cure ii
perfect, though the patient found himf
exceedingly amended, we gave him t
next day another fuch dofe again, and t
day following one more, whereby ti
whole fwelling, all the rednefs, and all t

P

't*s>

tin of the arm, hand, and the finger it-
If, were dlflipated 5 Meanwhile there
las applyed to the finger a little plaifter
|) cicatrize the incifions , that had been
,aae there, and which were healed three
r four day es after. Which did not hin-
erthe Patient to goe abroad, and to doe
is bufinefs, as well as if he had never been
tten by the Viper.

Thofe that (hall read this Hiflory, and
iamineall the circumftences of it, the fe=
eral and furprifing accidents of the bi- - v
ng of the Viper, which we faw, and the
fedual operation of the remedies, em-
toyed to remove them, will therein find
nple matter to exercife their reafoning
pon, and will foon judge, that we had
rufe , accurately to inquire, as we have
one, into all the parts of a Viper, to
fcnow them well, and what they can doe 5
j> make a great number of Experiments
!pon all its parts, and to apply ourfelves
)the preparation of the excellent reme-
ies, that may be drawn from the body of
his Animal.

The Extraordinary effedl of its Volatil
lalt, in flopping and in overcoming, fir ft
if all the Yenome, which fo violently ex-

G 3 ercifed

r

(8S)

6rcifed its tyranny over the natural heat
and all the noble parts, and which doubt
lefs would have altogether triumphed ove
them : the ndivity, penetration, ^and fore
of the fame alt, going to find out th
poyfon, and expelling it from the remo
te(t parts of the body, where it hat
fortified itfelf, and whence it endeavou
red to regain the place it had loft, an
where, in the mean time, it feem’d to de
, (pifethe ordinary moft powerful remedies'
All this, 1 fay, is fufficient to make it t
be wondred at 5 and men will, doubtlef
averr, that the ill, which Vipers are abl
to caufe, and which every one may eafil
avoide, is nothing in comparifon of fuc
a remedy, as the fame Vipers can furnifl
and which may ferve, not onely to he
their bitings , but alfo to overcome man1
other obftinate difeafes, againft which th
ordinary remedies perform nothing * nc
to fpeak of many other good preparation
made of' Vipers, which we intend to deferit
hereafter,

;

EXPii

sk

X h )

SXPE RIME NTS

! *

Of she Biting of Vipers,
upon other Animals.

CHAPT. II.

Experiments upon Dogs.

rHE effedfs, that are furprifing, are
wontfenfibly to touch the Minds
of Men 5 and they are they ,
/hich excite the Curious to inquire
uo the Caufe of them 5 and although
bis do alwayes precede tbefe , yet it would
‘ot be known, and we fhould not fo much
js be aware that it was, if the efifedts there-
f did not firft appear. Being therefore
0 treat of the Biting of Vipers, we hope,
: will not be thought amifs, if we begin
vith the recitation of the Experiments,
y the Examples of its efFedte. And not
G 4 to

(82)

to be tedious to the Reader • having r<
viewed all that hath been experimented ;
my houfe, both the laft: and this year,
fhall confine my felf to what I think d<
fervcs moft: to be communicated,what fei
veth moft to our purpofe, and what maj
give moft fatisfadlion to the Curious.

One of the moft confiderable Exper
ments was madeon a Dog , which wasbii;
ten by an angred Viper at the upper lipj
T he dog was not much moved at it at firf
Rut little by little grew fad , and his ja
began to (well : a little while after he vc
mited up the laft food he had taken, art
dunged. Then fome bread, flefh, an
water being offred him, he would touc
none of it, he remain’d in a proftrate pc
fture without complaining, the place <:
the pricking waxed livid, and this livic
nefs extended it fell to the neck, and s
far as the bread, as did alfo the (welling
At length he dyed, but not till fourt
hours were p ft after the biting. His be’
ly appear’d not fwoln , and without W
obferv’d nothing extraordinary but th
tumour and lividnefs in the part prickh
and thereabout. The Dog being opene
after his death, we found in the troncc

th

tm

the vena cava a little blond curdled, and
we noted, that the reft of the bloud,in this
liplace, in the heart, and every ivhere elfe,
was of a dark colour, and of a very ill con-
fluence, as if it were blood in part diflolv’d
and corrupted. The Stomach appear’d of
a darkifh colour, but the Mefentery and
the Gutts were darker. We found no al-
teration in the Heart, Liver, Lungs, nor
the Spleen ; all thefe parts being of a
very fine ’colour, and in their natural corj^
dition.

, •

' The Biting of a Dog at the Ear.

THis Dog howled from the time he
felt the biting, and continued his
howling for half an hour 5 then he ceafed
to howl and to complain. The place
prick’t wax’d livid, and fwell’d, as alfo
did the Neighbouring parts. This dog
vomited not, but voided fome excre-
ments, which Teemed natural. He would
neither eat nor drink, no more then the
firft, and he foon dyed , having liv’d no
longer then twenty four hours after he

had

had been bitten. We faw outwardly na2
thing un-common, but the lividnefs and
fvvelling at the neigbpming part, and
thereabout. But having opened him, we
found all the inward parts in-thefame con-
dition with thofe of the former dog. ’Tis
true, we did not finde in this dog any £'o-
nguhted bloody neither in the heartj not
the vena, c avd, nor el fe where, but it Was
of an obfcure colour, and of an odd confi-
dence, and in a vifibledifpofition tocoa*
4r^te.

+ — "* 1

Another biting of a Dog,

WE had a Dog bitten by an irritated
Viper at the tip of his Nofe, the
dog howled , when he felt himfelf bitten,
but was foon appeafed , falling to lick
the place prick’t, and to feratch it with
his paws. He lay not down, but continu-
ed for fome time in that exerdfe,and went
up and downin the chamber. The place
bitten became fomewhat black and blew,
but fwell’d not 5 and a little while after the
dog drank and eat , as if he had never

beeri

c 9*y

(been bitten: The lividnefs difappeared
little by little, and the Dog was as well as
ever.

5,

The Biting of a little dog .

f|

AYong Puppy, but 7. or8.dayes old,
was bitten in the leg by an enraged
Viper*, the dog began to howl asfoonashf:
was bitten, and fo continued till he dyeai:
which he did one hour after. The part
pricked was fwelled and livid,as in the for-
mer, and the animal being open’d, we
l found nothing extraordinary in his body,

1 fave onely fome lividnefs in the Stomach
and Gutts, and fome blackiflinefs and ill
confidence in the bloud, as in the others;
for all the other inward parts appear'd to us
\ very found.

Another biting of a Dog .

E caufed alfo another Dog to be
bitten under the Belly by another

an°

(S>0

angred Viper. He howled prefen tly, but
that lafted not long. The place bitten
fwelled much, and was very livid, and the
tumor and lividnefs reached over all the
natural parts; This Dog drank often, but
would eat nothing, and was alwayes in
this condition without growing woife.
Two dayes after, to be more certain of the
thing, wecaufed him to be bitten again,
and that twice, near the (lime place, where
fje had been bitten at fir ft. He again how- j
Ted"much,and the fvvelling increas'd, and ex-
tended it felf over the whole belly, as well
as the black and blew colour* but it went
no further > for the dog often licked his
wounds-, and drank (tore of water, and at
laftfell to eat, fo that without any other-
remedy, but his tongue, all the fvvelling
and blew colour vanifli’t in five or fix daies.
And the dog was in the fame condition, he
had been in before he was wounded.

Another Dog bitten in the Tongue*

rip His Dog gave us feme trouble? for
X he defended himfelf a great while *

be-

(93)

i before he would let out his Tongue • hut
yet at laft he received therein a deep bite
by an enraged Viper. At fitft'he howled
extremely, fo as to be heard afar off, and
To continued, tolling and tormenting him-
fejf for half an hour together, and then dy-
ed. We opened him alfo, and although
the Heart, Liver, Lungs, and Spleen were
in a very good condition, his tongue was
exceedingly livid 5 his mefentery cover’d
all over with black fpots, fome of which
were blacker then lentils , under which
i there was coagulated blood 5 the Sto-
! mach and Guts were alfo blacker than
I thofe of all the others. The bloud very
t: black, and beginning to coagulate in the
r heart, and in the vena cava, being alro of
[ the confidence of bloud curdled and cor-
, rupted.

This laft Experiment gave us great fa-
tisfadion, informing us fully of the efifeds
of the venomous biting of a Viper, and
: (hewing us, that the poyfon goes not di-
redlyto the noble parts, feeing we never
obferv’d any alteration therein, but that
’tis chiefly the bloud it works upon, fince
1 it corrupts the fubftance thereof, coagu-
> lateth it, or feparateth its parts, difturbs

its

. (P4 J

its circulation 5 and at the fame time hin
ders the communication of the Spirits
through the whole b\)dy, depriving the
noble parts of them, as well as ofr the pure
bloud, which vas *orit to bedew therm
and deftroying them indire&ly, by caufing
this privation of Spirits and of the good
liquor, whence depends their fubfi-
ftence.

We alfo found thereby that the pro-
_^gr.efs of the venom of a Vipers biting prin-
cipallydepends bom the place bitten, and
from the bignefs of the veins or arteries,
which the teeth hath lighted on. For, the
tongue of the Dog being full of veins and
arteries, ’tis no wonder , if the Venom,
meeting with them, and finding in them a
large way, very (horn and very free to tri-
umph over the bitten animal, did foon
produce its eflfedls, and caufed death much
more fpeedily, than that, which met on-
ly with fmall, {lender and winding branch-
es, by which its way was ftraighter, more
about, and longer ; though it failed not to
do execution at laft 5 which it would have
done fooner, if the paiTage had been
freer.

We may judge by the effedls of the ve-

- (£$5

nom of the Vipers biting in thofe dogsi
and efpecially in the laft, that the vo-
miting, and the extreme pains about the
Navil, which befell the Gentleman, above
difcouried of, proceeded partly from the
bloud which was coagulated or difpo-
fed to coagulation in its courfe, and which
could not freely circulate) and partly
from this, that the fpirits, which accom-
pany the bloud in the circulation, finding
obftades in their paffage, endeavoured to
make way for themfelves , and to that
end, doing violence to the lateral parts
in their way, caufed in thofe places the
extreme pains, which the Patient felt
there ; which might alfo be augmented
by the bloud, that probably was coagu-
lated out of the great vefTels, and might
be difperfed in the form of fpots in the
Mefentery , or elfewhere, juft as in the
body of the Dog.

We may conclude alfo, that the cold
fweats, the convulfions and the faintings,
wherewith the Patient was molefted, came
from nothing elfe, but the defedt of the or-
dinary commerce of the fpirits with the no-
ble parts, and from the goodnefs and puri-
ty of the bloud dedinated to bedew them.

Con-

C 96)

Concerning the fuccefs of the remedies
employed to cure the faid Gentleman, we
ihall declare our thoughts thereof in the fe-
quele of our Experiments, after , we fhall
have given proofs fufficient to fupport
them.

As to the Dogs, that were cured by lick-
ing the wound, I think that that was a
good means to recall and draw back the
venom > and I am much of their opinion,
who believe, that if the perfon bitten, 01
fome friend for him, fliould for a good
while and ftrongly fuck the wound, it
would be cur’d, provided that the teeth of
the Viper have not lighted upon fome
great veffel, whereby the progrefsof the
venom may prevail over the force of fuck-
ing. I am alfo perfuaded,that thefe fuckedl
and recall’d Spirits are incapable to an-i
noy him who fucks them, partly becaufej
they have been weakn’d by the a&ion they)
have been upon, partly becaufe they are
then deftitute of the inftruments propel
to convey and fecond their aSion , to wit,
the teeth of the Viper,

CHAP,;

(97)

CH APT. II L,

[XPE RIME NTS

)f the Biting of Vipers , mach
upon Pigeons and Pullets .

rHE Experiments made upon thefe
Animals have likewife been very
ufeful to us, to know the effedh
the Biting of Vipers, which have been
iry like in both.

We caufed a Pigeon and a Pullet to be
ten by a vexed V iper, almoft at the fame
lie, in the mod flelhy part, namely in
at under the breaft. We fcon after ob“
ved in both a very thick and extraordi-
ry beating of the heart, which went on
11 increafing, and in fuch a manner, that
ith Pigeon and Pullet were dead in lefs
en half an hour. We foon opened them,
d found in both of them a little bloud
lagulated in the heart and the vena ca-
!,and all the reft of the bloud blackifh,
fpofed to cMrdle, and as ’twere turn’d and
H cor

(98)

corrupt 5 but the Heart, and Liver, and a
the inward and outward parts of a ver
good colour, and in a very good condit
on, Cave that a little lividnefs appear’d upo
the place bitten.

We have frequently obferv’d the fare
thing in many Pullets and Pigeons : But
will not be amifs, here to relate the difft
rent fuccefs in two Pigeons, we caufed t
be bitten equally and in the fame place b
- an angred Viper. One of them we mac
to fwallow the weight of about half }
crown of T heriack, a moment before it w;
bitten, giving nothing to the other. Tf
former being bitten, went to and fro in tf
room, fo as not to fhew any fign of illnef
but the latter was dead in lefs than a quai
ter of an hour We afterwards caufed tf
former to be bitten again in the leg ; ar;
then it grew fick by little and little, ar
dyed half an hour after. We found t!
place of the fii ft pricking much more 1
vicl, then that of the Pigeon, which dye
in a quarter of an hour ; and even moi
then the place of the leg, which wasbii
ten afterward. We judged, that the v<
xed fpirits unable to penetrate into the be,
dy, defended by the Theriaque, ha„

wrong!

(99)

vrought upon the outward part, and
ound about the place bitten, where they
tad coagulated the bloud, and caufed the
tvidnefs^ whereas the like fpirits, having
net with no refinance in the other Pigeon,
lad gained and wrought upon the inner
'arts, having left and as ’twere defpifed
le place, at which they wereenned. We
fo wondred not, that the Theriaque,
/hich had vigoroufly repulfed the Spirits
ltioduc’d by the firft bite, could not re lift
he latter but for half an hour, and that at
iftit was forced to yield,in regard that the
iumberofthe enemies was great, and be-
fig weakn’d by the conflict had but now
lidured, had not force enough to bear up
gainft the new aflault of the latter.

We did alfo prick feveral times, and
jretty deep , dogs , pigeons and pullets,
: ith the long teeth ot Vipers, fome pull’d
; at of the throat of dead ones, others out
it : fuch as were alive. There was alfo one
The company, who handling a dead vi-
[trshead, had a mind to prick his Huger,
id actually did fo, wiih one of the great
c Meth,fo that the bloud iflfued. I alfo my
■ If thruft into my hand one of them,
id fodeep,that apiece of it remain'd more
H 2 than

( 100 )

than halfanhourinmyflefl]} but in all thi
we found- not the lead appearance of ve
noun, nor any ill, but fucfoas might be cau
fed by the pricking of a Pin, or fome fuc
thing.

Wealfo deplum’d a Pigeon at the moi
flefby place, and holding with both oi
hands the jawes of a Viper open, and ms
king her raife her great teeth, weprefle
both the jawes at once againft that fled
part, and caufed the teeth deeply toenti
into it, and order’d the matter fo5that tl:
yellow liquor of theGums had time enoug
to pafs into the wounds, which the teei
had made. We at the fame time faw3th;
the bloud ifliied*out of the wounds, at
mingled it felf with the yellow juyc<
which remained there. We had then rej
dy a little done, come from Portugal , whi>
thofe of that Country call the Sval
Stone^ being pretty black, fhining,roundiit
and flat,about the bignefs'of a French piej
of five Sols , but three times thicke
which we prefently applyed to the pk
bitten, which was cover’d with bloud, a
with the yellow liquor! mingled the
with. The done immediately was faftr
to the wound, and we perceived nothir

(IOI)

ttraordinary in the Pigeon. We might
ive believed, that this fafety of the Pige-
1 was due to the vertue of this Stone,
hich they would allure us was infallible
gainft the bitings or Vipe s and all kinds
: Serpents, if we had not fome dayes be-
>re tryed the like Stone upon a Pigeon,
.tten in the fame place by an angry Viper,
id if that wound had not been follow’d
f the death of that Pigeon, a quarter of
1 hour after. We thought, this very
ell deferved another experiment 5 and
aving ftill the fame Stone by us, W’hich
uiem’d to have faved the former pigeon,
1 id fuch another, which the Lord Ambaf-
'V idour of Spain had trufted his Phylitian
ith, we by one and the fame enraged Vi-
ercaufed to be bitten two Pigeons of e-
:ual bignefs and flefhinefs, each in the
ame place, well freed from its feathers,
'he bloud was feen upon both wounds $
ut there appear’d bur little of the yellow
quor. We foon applyed both the Stones,
:ne to each Pigeon 5 they prefently ftuck
aft to the places pricked 5 but we law im-
nediately in both a very high and thick
Seating of the heart, which was follow’d
>y the death of both Pigeons, which hap-
H 3 ned

( 10 2 )

ned at one and the fame time, in lefs than
a quarter of an hour.

We had alfo a mind to know, whether I
the Venom, that had fo much force upon
the bloud, were alfo able to mak£ Tome ill'
impreflion upon the noble or folid parts of '
the bitten animals, which parts appear’d
to us very fair and very well conditioned.
We gave alfo a Pigeon, dead of a Vipers'
biting , to be eaten by a Cat that was very1
lean, which fed very greedily upon it * and1
the fame did afterwards eat many more,and
Pullets alfo 5 upon which fhe grew very1
far, fo far was fhe from finding any incon-
venience thereby.

Moreover we had a defire to learn, whe-
therone and the fame Viper was able tc
kill by its hiring divers animals wounded,
one prefentiy after another^ and whethei
the Venom was exhauftible, fo that the
animals, bitten laft, might be free from it!
mifehievoufnefs. To know the trutf
hereof, weeaufed to be bitten five Pige-
ons one after another, by the fame Viper
which we angred every time fhe was tc
bite : All thefe Pigeons foon dyed ; and w<
particularly obferved, that the laft bittei
dyed fiift of all. And as to the Bloud

anc

C I03 )

id all the inward and outward parts, they
rere in a manner alike with thofe of the
igeon, that was bitten firft.

The various Experiments, we have been
[dating, do infeniibly oblige us to deliver
, jur thoughts concealing the Venom of Vi-
ers, and its operation. We think this to
UK e a proper place to declareourfelves here,
.id afterwards to employ the reft of our
tiain experiments for the defence of what
J’e fliall have advanced upon this Sub-

it j

0;

CHAP. IV.

f the Venom of a Vipers Biting^
and its Operation.

HE Antiens, prevented by the
opinion , that there were very

few parts in a Viper, that were ex-
npt of poyfon, have but very {lightly ex-
nin’d them. And as they efteemed that
le Choller of the Viper did much con-
H 4 tribute

fi°4)

tribute to the Venom, believing, that th<
feat thereof was in the Gall, they then,
alfo fetled that of the poyfon, and imagi
ned,that the tafte of the Gall, very {harp
and very bitter, was an argurrfent of it1
malignity, and that the veins and arte
ries, which pafs near the Gall, and mas
be followed as far as into the jawes, am
appear the fame through the whole body
above and below the Gall, were the pipes,
which Nature had purpofeiy form’d t<
carry the juyceof the Gall into the Gums
and that it was that liquor, which caufe
all the mortal Symptoms , and death ii
felf.

But they have not confidered, that th
Choler of the Viper refideth not in th
Gall 5 that the Galls of innumerable oth<|
Animals have a tafte very approaching t
that of a Viper , and yet are not vent
mous; thtf the veins and arteries , whic
pafs near the Gall , and feem to pai
thence and extend unto the Gumms,an
all the parts of the Body, are veftels def
gned, onely to convey the blood, whic
have not their origin in the Gall, an
which cannot carry a juyce, which the
could not receive : that there is not an

tall

(i°5)

afte of Gail in all thofe imagined Veffels,

10 more than there is in the liquor of the
}ums,nor in all the reft of the Body above
he Gall: and that in the twhole Bladder
if Gall there is but one veftel, that is any
hing confiderable, though it be very {len-
der, which iftuing, as we havefaid, from
he internal fide of the upper part of the
Sail, defcends ( fo far is it from afcend-
ag) and difcharges it felf into the firft
nteftine, according to the defcription we
rave made of it, and conformably to the
Figure, that may be feen in the Cut.

But not to ftay upon principles fo
lightly eftabliftft, and ill maintain’d, for-
rfmuch as we have on our fide a great num-
ber of Experiments, upon which we are
grounded; We fay, That the Gall of a
[Viper is not at all Venomous, but that on
the contrary it contains a Vertue, that is
Balfamick and cleanfing, and very proper
for many good ufes ; that there is no Vef-
ifel, which carries its juyce to the Vefides,
that are about the great teeth-, that the
! yellow liquor, therein contain’d, is in all
, i things very different from that of the Gall,
excepting that they are both equally free
from V enom j that that yellow liquor is ga-
ther’d.

f 10 6)

cher’d, and form’d by the Salival Glands ,
above defcribed? that it is carried into
thofe Veficles or Baggs by the Ljmphatick
vefTels which part from thofe Glands 5 that
this juyce is nothing but a pure &nd plain
Saliva , of which we havejalready obfervd
the ufe$ and that this juyce contributes
nothing to the venomoufnefs of the Bi-
ting 5 fince,being tailed and fwallowed (as
we have often experimented ) it does no
hurt neither to man nor beaftj andfince
alfo, being put upon open wounds,and up- i
on incifions made in the flefh, the fame be- j
ing rubb’d therewith ,and mingled with the
blond, it annoyes nothing at all : not-
withftanding the judgment of a per-
fon very intelligent, and particularly in
this fubjedl of Vipers, wo affures to have j
made a great number of Experiments ;
which being contrary to ours, the great opi-
nion we have of the abilities and the fince-
ricy of that famous man, hath obliged us
to employ the more care and exadtnefs,and
to confirm ourfelves, by a very great num-
ber of Experiments, which have alwayes
betn found alike, in the truth, we here af-
ferc ,and of which we fhall make evident and
irrefragable proof.

We

(107.)

We fay further, that there is no other
nom in all the other parts of the Body 5
d more, that there is none evdn in the
eat teeth, if the Viper be not alive, and
e biting riot accompanied with vexed and
raged Sprits. The hurt, which the
sth doth, when the Viper biteth, con-
Is chiefly in that it opens a door to the
gred Spirits , without which irritation
e Biting of the teeth is not mortal, and
ightto be no further confider’d then for
e deep and diredt wound, which a tooth,
fliarp, fo long, and fo {lender, of any O'-
er an mal whatfoever, might make. In
hich circumftances, the great number of
xperiments, by us made, hath ren-
1 ed us knowing; in regard that we
ive obferved a quite manifeft diffe-
nee in the Biting of a Viper angred ,
am that of a Viper, which was made
bite by holding its jaws, and by pref-
ag its great teeth into the body of
me animal : becaufe this forc’d adtion
rves rather to mike the Viper retain its
►hits, then to let them out> for which
le freedom of the animal is neceflary,
ie fpirits not being able to part, but the
pagination and the Choler of the Viper

mufl

mi

C 108 ;

muft immediately precede and thruft them
out. For this way of biting, by holding
the jaws, and thrulting the teeth into Tome
animal, although it emit more of the yel-
low liquor upon the part bitten, ‘than the
biting made by an angred Viper, left to it
felf, is not followed by any finifter acci-
dent, and is healed like a fimple wound:
whereas the other is attended with death
in cafe we want means of preventing it.

The eflfeft therefore of the venom be
ing altogether of a fpirituous nature, an(
not working but according as the fpirit:
are more or lefs iritated and pufh’t on
and according as they finde more or lef
free paflfage, we havereafon to impute i
to the exafperated Spirits , having fount
no footftep of it , neither real , nor appa|
rent in all the vifible parts. But the bet;
ter to maintain this ©ur affertion, we fhalj
here give you our thoughts concerning th
a&ion of the enraged Spirits.

Thefe Spirits then, pufh’t on by th<
choler, which the Viper had conceived
finding the apertures, made by the Teeth
follow their inclination, and as it is thei
property, to advance and penetrate, the]!
at the firft feek out all wayes for it, an

( IOp)

hey advance more or lefs, according to the
icility or difficulty , they meet with-
thence it is, that the Biting is much more
angerous , when the teeth light upon
he greater vefiels, than when they only
ight upon Fleflij or the little branches of
he veins and Arteries. So chat the vex-
d Spirits of a Viper, meeting with the
>loud and Spirits contain’d in the vef-
els of the bitten animal, puffi and prefs
hem to make way for themfelves, and em-
^araffing the particles that compofe the
ttoud, caufe there a coagulation or confu-
ion, which difturbs the ordinary Circula-
:ion, and by this means hinders the com-
nunication of the Spirits, to the principal
aarcs,from which depends their fub/ittence
md life. And by reafon of this privation
muft fuccumbe , either for having
been attack’t in their fort by thefe vexed
iSpirits and infe&ed by them, or rather be-
caufe thefe fpirits of the Viper have made
themfelves matters of the avenues, and ob-
ftru&ed the paflages, by which the blood
and the fpirits were communicated to
them.

We conclude therefore, that the ima-
gination of the Viper being irritated by

the

1;

(Iio)

the idea of revenge which Ihe had fram
toherfelf, gives a certain motion to d
Spirits which cannot be exprefted , an
pufhes them violently, throughftbe nerv
and theirfibres, towards the cavity of d
teeth, as into a funnel; and that frot
htence they are convey’d into the blood (
the animal, byt-he opening, which the ,
have made , there to produce all thoi
effedls, of which we end eavour to give
reafon. Others, more able than we,may pei
haps carry their reafoning farther.

For the reft, fome have thought, thj
thofe enraged Spirits have in them a fecr<
acidity, capable to coagulate the blou(
and to hinder the Circulation, whence th
mortall accidents proceed. But fince the
this acidity may have been produced in thl|
mafs of the Blood by its own parts, whic
come to be diftolved and fevered, whe
they are tainted by the venom, and fine
corruption Aides into it , as into milk
which fowreth and corrupteth of it felt
without mixing any acid thing therewith
it is not neceftary to fearch ior a coagu
lating Acid in the Spirits of the Viper
which cannot be perceived by thetaftett
know the truth of its exiftence therein

ant

(in )

nd that the lefs,becaufe that Add may be
laterally formed in the Bloud of the ani-
nal bitten, without looking for it in the
V'iper, as if it had come from thence.

How-ever this be, we muft agree here-
fn, that this irritation in the phanfy or in
:he fpirits of the Viper is the main caufe
^f the activity and piercingnefs of its ve-
nom, and that without it the biting would
not produce fuch furprifing effe&s, as
:hofe are, of which we have related fo ma-
ay Examples. Nor is a viper the onely
animal, whofe biting is mortal: Dogs,
Wolves, and Men themfdves prove that 5
md not to go from our Subject, the biting
>f Serpents, of which the Viper is a fpeci-
fj, is more or lefs malign, according to
:he nature of their fpirits, and especially
iccording as they are angred and exafpe-
rated.

It feems, that Cleopatra was well intru-
ded in this matter, when ihe, intending to
till herfelf, commanded to be brought her
two Afpes in a fruit-basket, and pricked
them with a golden needle, which ihe pul-
led out of her hair-drefs, and made her
Ifelf be bitten immediately by one of thofe
Afpes in the right arm, and by the other,

in

(H2)

in her left breaft*, knowing (as a famous
Author faith) that their natural fiq-cenefs
and cruelty was not fufficient to execute
well what fhe defired,and that it was need-
ful, this pricking fhouldferve to "provoke
thefpirits to bite to purpofe, and to ren-
der the wound mortal i if at leaft it be
with Orbiting, as it is with that of our
Vipers, who alfo have this particular qua-
lity , that not onely they are foonangred.
but that in the very moment of the irrita-
tion they bite with a ftrange fwiftnefs:
which fpeaketh much the fubtlery andi
impetuoufnefsof their fpirits, whence de-
pends their ftrength and adivity. ,We ob-
ferve alfo, that in diftilling Vipers bodies,
we thence draw very fubtile and very pene-
trating parts, and in much greater quanti-
ty , in proportion , than from any other
animal.

In the mean time, the obfhcle, which
thefe irritated fpirits of the Viper givetc
the communication of the fpirits of the a-j
nimal bitten, nor the coagulation, or con-
fufion , which they caufe to the bloudy
are not of that force, that fpecifique
remedies fhould not matter them, and re-!
ftoie the animal unto that Condition j

where-

(H3)

/herein it was before it was wounded.
Vhich is that, we fliall prove in the (e-
uele by divers Experiments ; ‘where we
iope to Ihew in what manner the remedies
o overccTme the powerful a&ion of thofe
inraged Spirits.

If the yellovo j uyce, contain'd
in the Veficles of the great
teeth * made upon divers
e, Animals .

IN the defign, we had, well to try all
things, wepurfuedour Experiments,
and to be well allured of the quality
of that yellow fliquor, which hath
ieen believed fo dangerous , we caufed
o be bitten, by fix angred Vipers , fe-

CHAP. V.

IXPE R.I MENTS

1

f 114)

parately and feveral times by each oi
them, a dice of bread, and fo much, thai
it had well exhaufted and retain’d all th<
yellow liquor, contained in the Gums 0:
thefe lix Vipers : At the fame time w<
gave this (lice of bread to a fading Dog
to eat, who was no more inconveniencec
thereby, than if he had eaten a piece o
dry bread, that had imbibed nothing 0
this juyce.

We have alfo often made divers Pullet:
and Pigeons to fwallow pieces of bread dip
ped in the fame liquor*, and we can allure1
that none of thefe animals had any mifchie
thereupon.

I my felf had thecuriofity to tafteo
this juyce, which I have divers time
done in the prefence of many perfons'
without wafting my mouth before or af
ter. And feveral Phyfitians alfo have ta
fted of it themfelves,both to know the taft
and to be aflfur’d of the harmlefsnefs there
of 5 and ’tis certain, that they were n<
more incommoded thereby than my
felf.

And becaufe it hath been believed, tha
this juyce, being thus tailed and fwallow
S>d by Men or other Animals, that had ni

woum;

C>'S)

round nor Ulcer in their mouths, nor in
heir ftomachs, was indeed harmlefs •, but
ihat it was quite another thing, when it
id accompany a Biting, and entred into
he openings made by the teeth and that
le fame being put upon anUIcer,a wound,
r a limple excoriation made on the skin,
as mortal, and failed not to produce its
fe<5f , three or four hours after it had been
at upon the wound; and that as well upon
len, as all other forts of Animals, without
Kception; we refolved alfo to make ma-
/ Experiments upon this account,
lean therefore fay, in the firlt place ,
lat I have tailed of it my felf , at fuch
tnes, when my mouth was excoria-
d, upon which I obferved , that even
y fpittle was a little ting’d with bloud ,
ithout having perceived any acrimony,
extraordinary heat. We alfo made a
ryal upon a Pigeon, which we wounded
ider the wing, and in the leg in the fame
oment of time; and we let into each
ound fome of this yellow liquor, which
e juft afore had drawn from the gums of
vo enraged Vipers > then we re-joyned
tie skin, well to inclofe the faid liquor,
lid we bound both wounds over with a

I % band, »

(tiS)

band, that nothing might run out. We
can affine, that the Pigeon felt not any
inconveniency from it, and that we even
found upon the wound, made on the leg,
a coagulated drop of the juyee, round, and
of the fame colour, as we had put it therej
and the bloud of the place dry ed, and that,
foon after, both wounds were dryed up, anc
heal’d of themfelves.

We alfo made the like Experiment upor
a Cat, wh ch we purpofely wounded it
the leg, but he received no harm at all bj
it. We have alfo often experimented i
upon Pullets, and other Pigeons, but al
wayes with the like fuccefs, andwithouj
any offence to the Animals.

The fame tryal hath been thrice madi
at three feveral times, and even twice i:
one day, upon a dog, whom we had woun
ded on purpofe towards the bottom of th
Ear, where he could not lick his wound
and no mifchief at all followed upon it.

We cannot but adde here an Experi
ment of the mortal effedi of the enrage
Spirits, without any intervention of th
yellow liquor. We made a Viper fever;
times to bite upon a flice of bread, by p; el
fing every time its jaws againft the breac

an

(H7)

ind we did this fo often; that not only that
uyce was altogether exhaufted, but that
:hebloud began to come out ofathe gums.
.<lt the fame time we vexed the Viper,
ind made it bite a Pigeon in the mofl flefhy
aart 5 and we obferv’d , that indeed the
;ffeds of the, venom of the biting were
rot fo quick; the Pigeon not dying but an
lour and an half after It had been bitten >
iut then we found alfo, that the teeth of
:heViper were in a manner cover’d with the
:rums of the bread, from the force of its
having bitten at it, and that that had hin-
ired them from making a deep entrance ,
md that; having half dop’d up the pores of
:he tooth3a good part of theangred Spirits
:ouId not come forth 5 fo that the death
af the Pigeon could not follow fo faft,
chough yet it hapned without any mixture
Df the juyce which had been altogether
emptied,

I*

CHAP.

( n8 }

CHAPT. VI.

(

EXPERIMENTS

Of l the Gall y Eggs , Intejlins
Head , and ! Blond of Vi -
persuade upon divers Ariu
mats.

WE have made feveral Dogs anc
Cats to fivallow the Galls of Vi
pers, fometimes whole, fometimes burftj
and diffolv’d in fome liquor, and fometime
fix, fometimes ten, fometimes a dozer
at a time s but they never found them
feves ill after it, no more than the Pige
ons and Puliets that had fwaliowed fomi
of it, and which we had alfo wounded
and afterwards rubbed with the Gall of
Viper : for this Gall fetved them for a Bal
fom, the wounds being the fooner cure<
thereby; fo that we can juftly declare thi

(n<?)

gall to be free from all venom, as well as the
yellow liquor^ and even inculcate here what
we have already faid, that the galls of Vi-
pers have particular vert ues in them.

We c$n fay the fame of the Matrix and
Eggs of a Viper, and of all the Inteftins,
of which we often have made good quan-
tities to be fwallowed by Doggs and Cats,
fome of which have eaten thereof with
greedinefs, when they could light upon t?
and none ever hath felt any trouble after
it. On the contrary, we have tryed, that
having caufed to be bitten, at the thickeft
place of the Ear, by a fufficiently vexed
V'iper, a young Cat, very lean, that had
out juft before eaten the Eggs, the Ma-
nx,md all the guts of a Viper * the biting
lad almoft no effedh and there appeared
lothing but a very little fwelling , and a
/ery inconfiderable lividnefs in the place
bitten.

We have further made many Dogs and
pigeons fwallow the Heads of Vipers,
iaewly cut off, hnd yet living, having on-
ly cut with Sizers the point of their great
teeth, leaft in pafling down they fhould
bite the throat, or the inward parts of the
animals, that were to devour them ; but
1 4 we

( no)

we have not obferv’d any thing after ii;
that was extraordinary, in all thofe ere*
tures. ;

We hadaifo a defire to find7~Wbeth<
a Viper, being eaten by an Animal, whic
it had bitten before, would be cur’d of th:
biting. We therefore caufed to be flight
ly broyled the head of a Viper, which ha
on it a part of its neck, newly fever’d froi
the body 5 and we made a Dog to t
thrice bitten at the Ear by a well enrage
Viper, infuch a manner that the blou
came out at the three places pricked. W
foon caft before him the head and neef
broyled, and yet hot. T he dog, that w;
hungry, and felt not fo foon the effed
of thebitings, immediately feized on tf
head, bruifed it between his teeth, ar
fwallowed it down : after which we fta]|
ed a pretty while to fee, whether the thr<
bitings would prevail over the devours1
head and neck 5 but the Dog was free,ej
cept fome blewnefs and a little tumor, 1
had at the places bitten, but which litt
by little vanifh’t in three or four dayes.

We made alfo a dog to be bitten thre
times in the fame place, and without broj
ling the head of the fame Viper that ha

b

it him, we caft it to him , hoping that
'■ e would eat it, becaufehe had not eaten
ay thing for many hours before’* but the
o g would not touch it. Upon that we
ruifed and ftamp’d that head in a mortar,
nd fo cramm'd it down the dogs throat ;
jbbing alfo the bitten places with the
loud of the fame Viper: which done,
;e expedted the fuccefs 5 which was, that
his head, raw and bruifed, and if you will,
(lifted by the blood of the Viper, being
pplyed to the part bitten, had produced
he fame effe&s with the former , which
tad been fo (lightly broyl’d $ in regard that
his dog was free, excepting thofe inconve-
niences the former fuffer’d, and was, after
hat as found, as if he had never been bitten.

If thefe two Experiments had been
nade, before that Gentleman, above
lifcours’d of, was bitten by the Viper, we
hould have been in muchlefs anxiety for
lis prefervation. But it was enough, thac

ve were able to fecure him from the dan-
gerous effedfs of the biting, by wayes
grounded upon rearon, and by remedies,
that were more proper for fuch perfons, as
:ould not well refolveto eat the bareflelh
of Vipers.

CHAP.

( 120

CHAPT. VIL

Several other Curious Expe-
riments made upon

WHereas we gave but little credi
to what divers Authors have af j
fured to be true, namely, that the Head o
a Viper bruifed and applyed to the biting
of it would heal the fame > we made ;
Pigeon to be bitten in the moil fleflv;
part of its body, well freed of its feathers,
and we cut, bruifed , and applyed to thi
place bitten, the head of the fame Viper i
that had wounded the Pigeon, and tool
care to have it held upon it with a hand
We alfo cut the head of a living Viper ,an<
had it {lightly broyl’d , then bruis’d ant
laid hot to the wound of another Pigeon
which had been newly bitten in the farm
place, to find, whether by the heat of tht

<I23J

I '

oyling, the parts of the head being more
>en’d, and the fpirits more fee at liberty,
ey would work better 5 but the fuccefs
as not more beneficial for one Pigeon ,
an the other 5 for they both dyed half a
liarter of an hour after they had beenbit-
n > and their bodies being open’d, we
und in them, what wedid in others, kill'd
1 Vipers, namely a blackilhblood,in pare ,
)agulated,and half corrupted, in the heart
id the great veflels ; but we took notice,
tat there was lefs black & blew about the
ace bitten 5 which was perhaps all the
fed, that thefe bruifed heads had pro-
Heed, which had not been able to carry
leir virtue any farther.

! It is not fo, ( to fay that on the by )
ith the pricking of a Scorpion^ which being
uifed on the part flung , ferves for an
.ntidote, andcureth: for which this rea-
>n may be alledged, that the venom of
iScorpion, not working fo briskly, and
ot piercing with fo much quicknefs unto
ie inward parts • the Spirits, that iflue
om the bruifed Scorpion, have leifure to
lake way for themfelves, and to go and
nd out the venom, to joyn with it, and
b make it come forth ; whereas the ve-
nom

(i*4)

nom of the Viper goes immediately
taint the mafs of the blood , and t
parts which it bedewethi as was app
rent in our Gentleman, who had no pai
nor fwelling in his arm, but after all ti
other accidents 5 contrary to theoperai
on of the Scorpions Venom, which, b
fore it paffeth further, a&eth upon t)
part prick’d by benumming, cold, and te
fion, or by inflammation, and very gre
pains ; as thofe Authors, that have wr
ten thereof, and the perfons, that ha
been prick’d by them, doe aflure.

We have found very true, what Sign
Redi hath faid of the efle&s of the Eflen
of Tobacco upon Vipers; That,runnii
their skin through with a thred dipp’d
that eflfence, and leaving the thred int
skin, the Viper dies in lefs than a qui
ter of an hour , and becomes as hard
brafs, but foon after fupple and plyar
We have alfo try ed, that a little piece i
Tobacco in the roll,held in the throat o;
Viper, and the fraoak of Tobacco blov
into its throat produce the like effeC
but a little more flosvly ; and that bo
do caufe convulfions , and extraordina
contractions in a viper, which are atten

<

C U5)

with death 5 and that, when all the
her parts of the body are deprived of
otion, the heart yet beats about half an
>ur after; and that Tobacco, or its ef-
ace, kills Snakes as well as Vipers.I know
it, whether this will do with other ani-
ials, fince,'having run a thred dipt in the
[fence of Tobacco, into the skin of the
ider-belly of a Dog, he immediately how-
d very much, and continued fo to do for
ilf a quarter; of an hour, running round,
ien lying down, and then rifing again, and
the mean time purging above and be-
w, and voy ding excrements more liquid
ien ordinarily. He would eat nothing,
iid onely drunk now and then a little,after
'hich he vomited 5 but this was all the
ouble he had, which infenfibly went a-
ay, and foon after, without any other
bcident.

We have vexed a viper, and made it to
ite another viper, which on purpofe we
ield within the reach of its teeth. But al-
houghihe open’d her throat, and put her
blf into a pofture of biting, yet (he refrai-
ed, and funk not her teeth deep into the
•ody of the other 5 which .moved us to
hruft them our felves by prefling her jaws;

but

{n6)

but the bitten viper received no inconv
nience from it. Yet we have obferve<
that a viper which was made to fwallo
fome of the efTence of T obacco, and whi<
we yet held by the neck with pincers, d
bite herfelf 5 but as the efTence alone fai
ed not to kill her, fo there was no reafc
to impute her death to this kind of bitin
which was probably an effedi: of the coi
vulfive motions caufed by the efTence
Tobacco.

We alfo pierced twice, in the day-ligf
with the point of a pen-knife, the he^
of a live viper in the midftof the Brai
from the top to the botom ; one thrt
long-wayes, the other crofs-wayes, ai
in fuch a manner, that the blood run c
both above and below 5 but notwithftan
ing , the viper, being let loofe , ere -j|
about as before , and as if fhe had n<
been wounded ; but fhe ftill loft bloud tj
the wounds, and atlaft dyed at the end 1
an hour, but her heart did ftill beat ar
continue to do fo two hours after. Whid
Experiment fufficienly argues the er
traordinary vivacity of the Spirits of tl
viper.

We have alfo put into aglafs-veflel,

Irvin

(i*7)

ring viper,together with three live Scsr -
ms , and there left them together four
iyes ; but found them in the fame con-
tion, in which they were, when we put
lem in, though there be Authors that
fare, that thefe Animals kill one ano-
ler, being faut up together in one and
le fame veffel. Mean time a viper will
ill Scorpions, as well as Lizzards, and o-
ler animals to devour them and feed upon
(iem, but that Hie doth only, when fhe i$
j: liberty, and not when imprifon’d 5 for
len faeceafeth to take food.

\ We have likewife found the contrary
> what Authors have affirm’d of the
7dffe’s attaching a Viper, and that the
i>rmer would fix its fling into the head of
le latter,and quitted her not, till fhe were
<ead.

Divers Authors have aflur’d, that ^11
lie remedies, which are reputed Alexite-
al , or Prefervatives againft poifon , did
ill Vipers, by their vertue contrary and
ppofite to their venom. To be certain
ereof, we forced a Viper to fwallow half
drachm of Tberiaqtte , diffolved in Car da-
k* Benedict water 5 and having laid her
fide, we perceived not any change in her.

08)

except that the furface of her skinaj
pear’d for a while a little moift ; but ft
grew more vivid upon it, and more ready t
bite than before.

We had alfo a minde to know the eff&
of Spirit of Wine upon a Viper. We then
fore made one fwallow about a drachme <
it 5 which thereupon was prefently ftun’c
and then fell into ftrange agitations; bi
feeing that that ceafed little by little, w
gave her another dofe of the fame quat
tity, which not onely caus’d in h
the like agitation, but afterwards mac
her almoft un* moved, and fo inebriate
her that (he feem’d to be half dead. SI
remain’d about three hours in this cond
tion, but at length fhe began to ftir agaii
and was like the former, more brisk, ar
more difpofed to bite than before. W
put alfo a living Viper into a bottle almd
full of Spirit of wine, and we faw, that ft
turned to and fro therein, now fwimmid
on the top, then in the middle, and by ar
by at the bottom of the bottle, and th
fhe refilled a good hour, before Ihe w
choaked therein.

Wecaufed likewife a Viper tofwallc'
fome fugar, pare of which was in powdc,

x ' ’ 1

(I2p)

ad the other part diffolv'd in water. She
ept the whole for a while with her, but
fterwards vomited it up 5 and having laid
er afide, to fee, what would become of
er, we found her dead four and twenty
ours after.

We have often fpit into the throats of
iiany Vipers, even when we were failing,
uc they foon after call up our fpitle, and
ad not any hurt thereby; though there
e Authours affirming that Vipers become
ibid or confumptive thereby; which yet

Siay very well happen, not from thence,
nt rather from the abftinence and fadnefs,
r'ter a long imprifonment.

Many Authors have mentioned, rhac
fipers have a great Antipathy to Ajh-
ood, and that, if a live Viper were put
"ithin a round, made, one half,of the leaves
if Aih , and the other half, of kindled
oales, the Viper would rather expofe
erfelf to be burnt, then to come near the
iih-leaves. But having made a whole
Mind of fuch leaves, which had about
iree foot in diameter, we put a Viper in
hemidft, which prefently hid herfelf un*
ier thofe leaves.

Whileft I had live Vipers inmyhoufe,

& fc-

( 13°)

feveral Women with child came to me
fome dtfigned'y to fee them, others with-
out having any inch thought, and even be-
ing furpris'd at, and abhorring the fight o:
them j but none of them having been in-
convenienced by it fo far were they iron
mifcarrying thereupon, as certain Author:
would beare us in hand they would do
Not that fuch a thing may not chance t(
happen to fome woman or other extraordi-
nary fearful, and of a temper fo delicate
that a much lefs occafion might produc
fuch an effedi $ but that ought not to paf
fora general rule.

We have often preffed fome Vipers
both Males and Females , at the place
where be the Paraflates , or the Bladder
containing the feed, namely under the tail
and near the openings, which ferve for ge
neration ; and have fo much and fo lonij
prefs’d them , that a white liquor cam!
forth-, but we never perceived there an
piercing or ill-fented fmell, no more tha j
we did in opening thofe Parajlates with
lance though we held our nofe clofe toil,
which isalfodiredfly contrary to whatfomj
Authors have allured thereof.

(iso

>

CHAPT. VIII.

■g «P ^ V

GENERAL REFLEXIONS
‘Upon all we have experimented .

rH E great care and attention ufed
by us in the Experiments, we have
hitherto defcribed, and in thofe,
b have thought fit to fupprefs, hath
ade us to profit of all the occafions, that
efented tnemfelves * and we have taken
?afure to obferve all the effe&s, that
ve appeared to us , and carefully exa-
ned them, and inquired into their cau-
; afterwards. that we might make our-re-
xions thereon.

The Biting of the Viper- which hapned
the Gentleman Stranger, began to fur-
h us with much matter s and at that
tie we knew the Venom by its efFe&s,
nich feem’d to proceed from a very flight
-life, it being nothing but a little prick-
k, and onely the cut of a tooth, which
Is not any thing deep , and the ill of
K 2 which

C 13O

which did notfeem to us increased by an]
of the yellow liquor of the Gums, the in
nocence of which was not yet fully knowi
to us. In the mean time the mortal Ac
cidents came on in great number, whili
continued vomitings hinder’d the effe<!
of the remedies, which could not b
kept in the Stomach , to communicat
from thence fome of their vertue to tb
parts affeded. It was well enough knowi
that there w;s fomething very fubtile,vei
quick, and very powerful in this Venom
and it was alfo prefumed, that that refidt
in the Spirits 5 but the nature of it, or b
what means, or how, or on what parts
aded, was not k nown fo well.

Y et we muft avow, that on an occafit
fo prefling, fo dangerous, and fo extraorc
nary, we could not take our meafures bej
ter than by having recourfe to the Volj
tile Salt of Vipers. The caufe being fu'
tile and fpirituous, there was required 1
remedy of the like nature, that’might !
able to make hafte to finde it out, to jo;1!
with it, and to draw it to the excremiti1
of the body, and to make it come for
by the wayes, it had opened for it. B
then, the continual vomiting demand

( I3i ) 1

he aid of fuch a remedy 5 that could
zork in a moment, or execute atleaft by
:veral takings, wh2t it was notable to do
c the firft. T he happy fuccefs, which at-
(ended the ufe of this Volatile fait of Vi-
e:s, acquainted us with the fufficiency
hereof, and fhowed ns the mail ery it had
ver the malignity of thofe Spirits. It alfo
egot in us a defire to know aright, in what
lanner it produced fuch good effects, and
3 be enabled fo to difcourfe of it, as that
thers might have no reafon to reject our
sntiments.

, We efteera therefore, that this Salt,
y its fubtile, volatile and piercing quali-
is very proper to diflolve the coagula-
,Lons of the Bloud, and to fever the parts,
rhich therein were congeal’d or fix’d, Q if
i<e may fo fpeak ) and caus’d the diforder
nd confufion of its motion 5 that it per-
ormed this in the Blood of the faid Gen-
leman, which it reftor’d to its former
ondition, and fo gave again to the parts
he free communication of the Spirits,
vhich they had loft. We believe alfo,

! hat this Volatile Salt, by the facility it
rad to hook and fatten it felf unto thofe
rexed Spirits, as being of the like nature,
K 3 did

did eafily joyn with them, and drove dierr
to the extremities of the body, drawing
them forth through the pores of the skin
and ifluing out with them by the way, i
had open’d for them.

The Ligatures made about the placi
bitten, the Scarifications, and the ap
proach of the well heated iron-fpatals tr
the wound, were to ferve to flay the im
petuoufnefs of thofe irritated Spirits, an<
to give them an out-let at thefe openings
rather than that they fhould go farther;
And tne exhibition of the Theriaque, th
Viper- powder, and the litre, was to con
duce tc drive them back,as it might havi
don -, if thefe remedies had flay’d in th
Stomach As alfo the Epithemes cl
Theriaque upon the Heart and Stomacs
might have feiv’d much, if the adhon c
the enrag’d fptrits had been more flow
and if at the time of their applicatio
thofe fpirits hid not been too iarre ac
vanced.

But the Ufe cr this Volatile Salt wast1
carry the I l1, as it did , from ail the c
thei remedies > and thofe, that were err;
pic M afterward? an^ in the intervals <
its exhibition, were nothing, if we ma

[ ITT-

V

7 035) '

o fpeak,but Souldiers alfifting their Cap-
ain ; fuch as the Conledtion of Alkermes
ind of Hyacintbe, which were vgry proper
o fortify the noble parts $ as alfo were the
Jyrup of »Limons, and the Decodiion of
Icorzonera, and the (havings of Ivory.

The Slices of Citron, which might
eem to fome by their acidity capable to
Ugment the coagulation of the blood ,
vere not given till after the Volatile Salt
lad ufed its force to diffipate it 5 and they
erved to recover the Stomach, debilita-
ed by continual vomiting, and by their
cidnefs to reftore the loll appetite, and
0 help the concodlion of the aliments, and
heir diflribution into the parts, that had
eed of them. Befides that Citrons have
fpecifique vertue againft the poyfon .of
/ipers, if we will believe thofe Authors,
hat have written of it 5 and is a great
iend to the Heart and the other noble
arts.

The Anointing with the Oyle of Scor-
ions of Matthiolus^ and with the water of
he Queen of Hungary., made upon the
well’d parts, and the application of Aiexi-
erial fomentations, (hould in all appear-
nce have ferv’d much5 but the fequele
K 4 fbew’d

’• fij'O ' '

fhew’d, that there was nothing but th
Volatile Salt, which could make thofe ai
gry Spirits furrender, and fo \Vas to tali
the honour of all.

The Experiments, which we afterwar
made upon a great number of differing /
nimals, have given us a much great
knowledg of the effedls of Vipers- poyfo:
of the parts on which it works , and i
thofe that feem to be exempt from i
though at laft they do fuccumbe: 'VS1
have fet down the rnofl confiderable
them, making fome reflexions on the t
ting of fever'd Doggs,done by Viper
but there remain’d ftill for us to difcourl
Why and How the parts of Vipers, beir
eaten, can flop and overcome the Veno
of their biting.

We fay therefore, that all the parts
a Viper abound chiefly in Volatile Sal
which in diftillation is found partly alone!
partly in the form of a Spirit, which prope
lyis nothing but a Salt diflblved in fon
portion of Phlegme •, and partly in tl
form of an Oyle, which alfo is but a $a
mix’t among the undfuous part of a Vipt
We fay alfo, that in the digeftioo, ma<
in the Stomachy of the parts of a Vipe

boc

s

^ / (137) \

tody, that have been fwallowed dawn ,
his fame Volatile Salt , which they con-
ain, is feparated, and afterwards diftribu-
ed to all the parts that need them 5 efpe-
:ially if .of thefe parts there have been
wallow’d enow, to furnifhthat quantity,
vhich is neceflary, of this Salt } and fo we
leed not doubt , but that this Salt will
Produce an effedt like that of the Volatile
Salt, which was given to our Gentleman
bitten 5 Unlefsit fhould be faid, that this
Came Volatile Salt of thofe parts of a Vi-
pers body, which, have been fwallowed ,
aeing of the fame nature with the irritated
Spirits, attra&s them to it felf, and by
this union changes their maligne quality,
land fo tames them , that they have no
power over the bitten Animal 5 which, in
my opinion, is hard enough to conceive,
and perhaps eftablifhed upon unfolid foun-
dations.

We hope, that among the many Expe-
riments, thofe of the Five Pigeons, bit-
! ten one after another, by one and the fame
Viper exafperated, and of which the laft
bitten dyed firft of all, when the V iper was
i moft vexed, and moft exhaufted of its yel-
low liquorjand that of thePigeon bitten by

'■a Vi-

< (ttf) \ J

Viper, which we had eaufed to bite feve-
ral times into bread before, and that ever'
fill bloudcame forth, to the end that the
Juyee might be well emptied of it, and
which notvvithftanding was followed by
the death of the Pigeon j Thefe Experi-j
roents, I fay , will prove on one hand ,J
that the yellow liquor contributes no-
thing to thepoyfon; and on the other,
that thefe incenfed Spirits, affifted by the
openings which the great Teeth had pre-j
pared for them , are the foie and true!
caufe thereof.

The wound, made by a Viper not ve-
xed, whofe jaws were held in, and whofe
teeth were at the fame time thruft into the
body of a Pigeon, which alfo was accom-
panied with (tore of the yellow juyee, and |
yet not attended with any ill accident •
as alfo the pricking, made by the great
teeth, pulled out of a live Viper, or by
fuch , as ftuck yet in the head of a dead
Viper, and did no hurt at all,do fufficient-
Sy confirm this truth, viz. that the caufe of
the Venom is to be imputed to the Spi-
rits enraged, and not to any other thing
or parts in the Vipers body.

I have not undertaken to reafon upon

all

J (!39> ;

I the Experiments, we have made, as I
ive done upon the Bitings, both be-
iufe that is beyond the Sphere ’of a man
l my profeflion, and becaufe I defigned
nely to eonfine my felf particularly to
le wounds and to the Remedies able to
eal them.

For the reft, if in the Treaty concern-
ig Theriaque, which I have lately pub-
lic , I have advanced any thing not con-
onant to what I h ve declared here,
ouching the adtien of the Venom, I
m to be excufed therein , forafmuch as
had not then had the occafton, well to

I mow the nature and the effedfs of the
Sitings of Vipers, and referred my felf to
he moft approved Authors about it.
hit yet all we hive there fa id , \ dero-
;ates in nothing from the preparation of
/ipers for Theriaque, which we have
here laid down , and which was in that
Sookour main defign, as well as to re-
orm feveral other preparations , that
eemednoc reafonable to us: That which
now remains to be done by us, is, to fpeak
of the Remedies to be drawn from Vipers,
which may ferve to heal their bitings,
md to cure many other evils.

THE

c (140) \ s

THE remedie:

EXTRACTED FROM

VIPERS

C H A P T. L

Of the different choyce tha
may be made of the parts 0
a Viper .

THere is nothing in Nature, t
which can be given more juftl
the title both of Aliment an
Medicine ^ than to a Viper, fince it afforc
equally very good Nourilhment and ver
good Remedies. It alfo hath in its Bod
not one part, which is not very ufeful
and of which Artifts may not draw fom<

thin

ning tHat is go©d ; their chief difference
unfitting in this, that the fubftance of the
•ne is more or lefs clofe, then that of o-
uers. Yet, as in all Bodies of Animals,
nere are*parts preferable toothers, fo
re may make a diftin&ion of thofe ina
iper, efpecially if we mean to eat them,

: to reduce them to powder, to take it
:the mouth, alone, or mingled with other
.ledicaments.

In this cafe, it will be well, to ufeon-
t the Heart, the Liver, and the Trunk,
mean, the jBody emptied of its guts,
'ithout head and tayle. Not that, if you

I 'Quid make ufe of the head and taile,
ay ill would attend it, or that you need
3 fear any ill quality in them, no more
han in all the other parts of the body 5
ut the Heart, Liver and Trunk are cho-

|:n, as thofe that are moft efteem’d, and
/hich are taken before the reft, out of
he body of fuch Animals, which men
ife to feed upon. Thofe alfo, that
vould nourifh themfelves with Viper- flefti
>oyled and feafoned , may do well, in
mating of it, to feparate the bones there-
)f, and to leave them uneaten : but if
:hey bruife them between their teeth,

( (142) \ ^

and (wallow them down together with til!
fleii, they would afford them a like, ar
even a ftronger nourifliment than til
flefh : for, we have found by Diftillatio >
that the Bones yield the fame parts, th 1
the Flefh does and even in greater quai
tity. For the fame reafon, the Bones <
the trunk are not to be caft away, whd
you will prepare the powder of Vipers, an
that the rather, becaufe they are in th:
way very eafy to fwallow. One may all
very ufefully drefs the flefh of Vipers wit
their own fat, as one would do with bui
ter, or with the fat of other animals. Th
Skin it felf, if men would, might be boy
led and eaten with benefit 5 but thatf
would not be fo favory, as the princip;
parts we have been fpeaking of.

As for the Cbyntical preparations, a!
the parts of Vipers may be therein em
ployed, and I would not except from then
the Stomach it felf, nor the Inteftins,if the;
were well clear’d of Worms, and all Ex
crements.

Ialfo know no difference, as to good
nefs,of one Sex from the other, althougl
moft Authors have prefcribed the ufe 0
Females .• Oa the contrary , if there b<

an]

ly fue^ difference, I wlmld preferre the
laics to the Females, when thefe are full
if Eggs, and big, forafmuch as then they
e too much walled for the feeding and
!iCrealing»of their Eggs.

As to the Seatons, in which they are to
e taken and ufed, Ialmoft equally conf-
er the Sping and Autumne 5 for the times
herein men need them , ought to carry
in the behalf of thofe who have a mind
) feed on them. But care muft be had
) chufe fuch Vipers, as are bigg, fat, vi-
orous, and a&ive 5 and not to keep them
ery long after they have been taken, be-
lufe they grow leaner and leffer every
ly , both out of Melancholy, and want
'food, which after that time they ufe
at to take. 1 alfo make no difference
etween thofe Vipers of France , that are
red in one Province, and thofe of ano-
ler > for thofe of Poitou and the neighb-
ouring parts are as good as thofe of Dan-
lwcandabouc£jmr,and in other places.
:‘he place therefore is not to be confide-
:d but for the quantity, and for the con-
eniency of getting them, in regard that
bey are not wont to be found in mari-
ne places , which are the onely 3 that

Authors

(1144) \ V

Authors have difapproved for Wiper*
upon the belief, that the flefh of Vipet
taken in them, did caufe thirft, by re
fon of the faltifh food , they met wii
there.

CHAR II.

Of the Vfe of the parts of V \
persy in refpeB of their nou
rifbing Vertue .

THere is fcarce an Author, that hat
written of Vipers, but affirms, th;i
in feveral parts of the World, mar
perfons,and even who’s Nations, have fe<
and ftill feed upon the flefli of Vipers
in fomuch that in great and coftly Ente:
tainments, they made exquifiteand vet
confiderable difhes of it. T here are alfi
that have alledged for an example foul
Nations, which by the ufe of Viper- flefli

v C»4J) .

ave extraordinarily letigtlm’d their li:V
/en to 140. years. It is needlefs, to in-
here the teftimonies of' Antiqui-
on this fubjedt5 the Curious may
ide them in Books. We content our-
Ives to affirm, that many perfons c’o ft ill
feitat this time in divers Countries, whe*

e

lerit be from Cuftom, ortofatisfie their
(petite, or by the Advice of knowing
hyli.ians, and that upon occafions they
ide wonderful effedis thereof. I alfo
>ubt nor, but that the ufe of it v ould
■: more frequent among us, if the- ver-
es of Vipers were well known, and ii one
iuld diflodge out of the minde of people
e honour and natural antipathy, they
ve againfl this animal. For the raffe of
iper-fleffi is very like that of Eeles •,
bence it is, that in fome Countries Vipers
2 called Eeles of the Mountain *, and one
ads fomet hing in them even more fa-
>ury than in Eeles. 1 know perfons*
ao well knowing the moft inward parrs
Vipers, have out of merriment, and in
mpany, made good meals of rhem, and
und it very favory meat. But thole
at have too much aveifion from this
nd of food, may find veiy convenL-nc

L

wave s

. ! >4<0

wayes tobenefu'themfelvesby tft'evertu
of them ,(o as not to be diverted from it b
any abhorrency of the animal: for the
may feed Capons and Pullets with tf
flefliof Vipers cut in fmall pieces, whic
thofe Creatures eat very greedily 5 . an
continuing for forne time to feed thei
therewith, it will certainly communicai
the vertue of the Vipers to the body <
thofe Animals-, which may be eaten, i
we eate other Capons or Pullets, the tafl
of which will be very favoUry, becaul
that of Viper flefli :s fo.

Neither ought we to doubt, thattf]
qualities of Vipers pafs into the bodies k
thofe animals, fince there are innumerab

others, the flefh of which hath not onel

the vertue , but even the tafte of tl
things, they are fed with. The flefh
the Birds , that live on Juniper-berrie;
and of thofe, that live onely upon Olive
hath not onely their qualities , but all
their tafte and bitternefs,and that fo hig
ly, that one can fcare eat them. In til
Countries, where Silk-worms are brec
it is obferved, that in their feafon, whic
is chiefly in the months of May an d^un
the Eggs of Hens/thac eat thofe Worm,

hai

| CI4?)

;ive a tafte and fmell of friem, as well as
eir fkfh$ infomuch that nice perfons
ed their Poultry a part, and hinder then*
am eating any Silk- worms. It may be
ken notice of, to this purpofe, that his
iuftome to give to Nurfes the medicines,
aich young Children cannot be made
take, to the end that their vertue may
fs from the body of theNurfe to that of
e Child-, and it hath been often obferv’d,
at the Urine of the Babe hath had the
it of the Diuggs the Nurfe had
ken.

; But yet home might phanfy, that Ani-
als cannot take the good from the good
rts of the things eaten by them , buc
ey muft at the fame time receive the im-
leflions of the ill ones , that are there 5
d it might even be objected, thatLiz-
irds, Scorpions, Cantharides, and the
ui iher Creatures, on which Vipers do feed,
ouldimprefs in their bodies the illquali-
k; :s, they have, as, among the reft, the
;Di antharid, its Cauftique qualiry. Put
k btwithftanding all this, the Experience
behave of the harmlefsnefs of Vipers-
J i)dies, and alfo of their good qualities ,
Iruifhes us with a contrary argument, fuf-
L 2 ficienc

■H •

^ C T4^)

ficient to deftroy that phanfy* and
teaches us, that the ftomach of Anima
converteth into good all the ill qualitie!
to be met with in the bodies, it recei
eth todigeft-, and that itunitethand a
propriateth the good ones to the very fu
ftance of- the Animal that hath eat
them: Whence ic comes to pafs, that
is as ’twere transformed, or at leaft ve
much changed by thole good qualitie
and is upon that account capable to cor
municate them to other animals, in
whole ftomach it enters to be there dige
ed. We fay befides* that there a
divers Examples of Bodies, that would
altogether poyfonous in the ftomach
men, wh en yet ferve for food to, and f<
ten, other animals, which afterwards yi<
good nourifliment to men. Such are H<
lebore and Hemlock , which nourilh and 6
ten Quailes and Goates, which afterwar
areufeiully employed for the nourifhme
of men 5 and this is it, what Lucrece ha
very wellobferved in thefeVerfes ;

Trxterea nehis Veratrum eft acre 1
nerium-y

At Caprti adipes & Ccturnicibus attge

( *4 9 )

Quipp'e vidcre licet pirfettefcere fitpc Ci-
cuta

Barbigerdi pecudcs j homini qud eft acre
Ventnum.

» j

But thofe, that have no averfion from
c ipeis-flefh, may take of them the Heart,
fi< e Liver, and the Trunck,and having wa-
' ;d them well, they may then accommo-
ite them to their own tafteinthe dref-
ig. Where they are to ’take care, not
make the fleih too hot by too much
ice, efpecially pepper*, but yet they are
lowed to put to it fome aromatique
libs, as Garden- and Wild- Thyme, and
;e like 5 or a little Nutmeg, Cinamon,
loves, to raife the tafte. They muft alfo
roid the fault, committed by the Anti-
its, whipping and vexing the Vipers, be-
re they killed them* leaft this irritati-
fliould caufe fome ill impreflion in their
)dy, which by it felf hath no venom ac
Unit. Let them alfo not caft away the
oth, wherein the Vipers have been boy-
d, becaufe it retaines the greateft vertue
them. Neither do I fee, why one ftiould
intthe quantity, or limit the time of the
e of it 5 that depending from the degree
L s of

(15°)

of die illnefs, arkj from the conft'tcution c
the perfons, that will make u'e thereo1
And although we know Vipers tobe a ve
ry Alterative Medicine, and that the
c iefufeis onely for their Medicinal qu;
lities s yet if taken as an Aliment, thei11
is no danger at all to eat of their flcfb, (
to drink of their broth, fomewhat moil
or fomewhat refs. It is alfo to be mode
lately faked 5 and thofe that have any<
the Fixed Salt of Vipers, final! do well t
employ it. You may alfo add'e to it fore!
of its Volatile Salt, if you will have tl1
Flefh of V ipers work more powerfully. I
As to the Verities of Viper- flefh, acco
ding to the confent of innumerable At
thors, whefe opinion is fupported by re;l
fonand truth, confirmed by many Exp»
riments 5 we can fay, that they are veil
great, and that there is no Animal in N:|
ture, that affords fuch and fo many: An
we wonder net at all, that the A mien
have fo frequently employ’d Vipers in the
Hierogljpbicks , anda orned their Mtda
with them; thereby to dtfign veiy at
vantagious things for the publick, an
for. private men j forasmuch as this An
mal is very capable to furnifh them. F<

ie ufeof it preferves th^natural heat in a
i:ry good temper, it repaireth the fame ,
lid reftoreth it when ’tis altered > it yields
very good food 5 helps digeflion by its
'at, which is not exceflive^ it retards
d age and prolongeth life, by a proper-
, which Vipers have , to maintain in
)od plight the whole habit of the Body,
whence it is, that many have believed,
at both Staggs and Eagles, induced to
by a natural intlindl, eat all the Vipers,
ey can meet with, and that 5tis upon
at fcore , that their life is extraordina-
long.

There is alfo adfcribed to Vipers, and
>t without reafon, a Renewing veitue,
p-ible to make young again 5 which they
:itly fhew, by calling their skin twice
'ear, and renewing themfelves by the co-
rof a new skin. This, joyned to the
btile parts, of which the Viper is corn-
fed, and to its lively and daring afpedf,
illifies it to be pertinent enough that Au-
ors have attributed to it the vertue of
taring and ftrengthning the E: es.

Vipers have alfo a very particular ver-
|e of Cleanfing the whole Body, and par-
:ularly the Blond, and of expelling
L 4 through

fi50

through tile (io^rcs of its skin all rite fup
Fill ties : Whence it may be inferred, t!
they are very proper to cure the Itch , Tj
tar^ Eryfipelas or Saint Anthonies ft :e,Afi
fe/s , Small Pox , and the Leprofy it felf, t
ufe of them being long enough continue
though I cannot well believe what Ga
faith, That the Wine, wherein one ont
Viper is choakea, is able to curefo gr<
an Evil, and which doth not fo eafily yij
to remedies.

Vipers alfo may, by removing all t
impurities and obftru&ions of theBody a,
skin, caufe beau y therein j and upon t
account it is, that many Ladies in Italy \
them for their ordinary food.

By the good nourifhmenr, they yii
by the purity they give ro the blood a]
to all the parts, and by the liberty thj
give to the Spirits to do their fundticj
therein , they are a great relief to perfci
in a Confumption, and to thofe that :
emaciated by long difeafes, and wafted I
tedious Leavers, There are even Autho
who cfture that the ufe of them is capat
to cure the Venereal difeafe* for which 1
doubt not but they may fe> ve much, if th
dp not altogether cure it.

.(IS3)

T heir mundifying veptue, joyned to the
Alexiterial, makes them alfo very proper to
;xpell all iorts of poyfons, and even the
^lague it felf and all contagious difeafes.

' They are alfo very contrary to all putrefa-
ction, which commonly is the matter and
: 'ource of mod maladies 5 whence it comes,
[ :hat thofe who ufe them,are not fubjedt to
» iifeafes, unlefs they live irregularly, which
$ able to deftroy all the good, which the
ufe of Vipers might afford.

W e might here fpecify many other fick-
' defies, that might be cured by the ufe of
Viper-fleflr, but we think not fit todofo,
fince the general vertues, which we have
noted, may fuffice to make men apply the
ufe to many particular Evils, that may need
it. Yet we fhall defcribe, in the Chapter
enfuing^the ufes andj Vertues of the parts of
Vipers, taken as a Medicine, without any
great preparation.

,

!.

I

CHAP.

( *54)

CHAP. Ill,

Of the Vertues of feveral
parts of the Viper 3 and of
their Vfe in Thy fief

THE Vertues, which th t Fie ft of
Vipers is able to communicate to
thofe, who eat them for nourifl>
ment, are doubtlefs very conside-
rable 5 but they are not the onely ones 3
that Vipers are endow’d with; and not to
alledge Superfluous things , we Shall con-
fine our Selves to the principal Vertues,
of which we have experimented the great-
dSpart.*

It is very certain, that the Head of a
Viper, broyledand Swallowed, healeth the
biting of chat animal. T he Heart and the
Liver may do th<£ fame. Reafon and Ex-
perience have confirm'd it 5 and therefore

in

.

(155.)

an urgent occafion tbofe parts may be
*;ry ufefully employed. The applicati-
liof the Blood of a Viper to the Biting,
;alfo that of its Head bruifed,are neither
i) be rejected, nor is that of the Entrails:
at thefe applications alone are not capa-
Ie to cure it 5 for, thefubtlety and quic-
Ts of the Spirits carrying them with
reat fpeed into the body, there muft be
fed internal fpecifick remedies to repulfe
hem 5 and you may alfo very pertinent-
r repeat (at the mouth ) the ufe of the
ead, heart, liver, and the other parts of
Viper, without fearing to take too much
f them , becaufe thofe parts can never
o hurt, and they alwayes produce fome
;ood eflfed:. They may alfo ferve for all
Drts of venoms and poyfons, and againft
11 forts of contagious and epidemical dif-
afes.

Divers Authors allure, that the Head
>f a Viper, hung about the neck, hath a
-ery particular quality to cure the Squi-
laucy and all the diftempers of the Throat;
ind that the Brain of a Viper, wrapt up
n a little skin, and likewife hung about
:he neck, is very good to make the Teeth
af children come forth; which efFedl

others

<UO

others believe to be due to the great teet s
of Vipers. If we had experimented it, wi
could then fpeak with more certainty.Th
remedies are eafi'y practicable, and with
a! harmlefs-, wherefore thofe who nee
diem may make tryal of them.

Some alfo have affirmed, that the L\
ver of a Viper, f.vallowed, keeps one fror
being bitten either by this Animal, cl
by any other ferpent, and that the pow
der of Vipers hath the fame efficacy. Bu
we muft not rely upon their report 5 wi
crnely believe, that the Liver fwallowec
is capable to heal the biting of a Viper i
like the heart, fleffi, and other parts, c
which we have fpoken and that it ma;
much facilitate the delivery of Women
with child, as doth the Liver of Eeles. i

The Skin of a Viper is not altogethc
deftitute of vertuei for befides that it i
alfo, as they fay, very good for the deli
very of women, making a garter of ii
about the right leg, it hath a very fingu
larvertue for all the diftempersof humane
skin : And although all the other parts,
eaten^may work the fame thing j yet, thai
we might havebenefidfrom all, we hav
experimemedjthat theViper*skin does per

( 157)

|:&ly heal the inveterate mangie of Dogs^
laking them eat itboyfed or raw.lt might
fo be faid, that the fpecks in the Viper-
sin feem to (ignify the marks of the itch
s r mangy,* or, if you will, of the leprofy,
I'hich the fcales of the skin reprefent yet
l etter, and fo tacitly exprefs its vertue.
o Some have believed, that th zG&ll of a
riper applyed, can heal its biting ; but we
i ive no credit to it, no more than to the
Hi pplication of its bruifed head. But this
si re judge, that it is proper for the wound
?! >f the biting, onely as it is for all other
:i rounds, and (or ulcers themfelves, having
,i great abfterfive, mundifying andcicatri-
; ing vertue. It is alfo vety good for the
a reaknefles of Eyes, above all, for fuffufi-
ms and films, being taken inwardly, or ap-
is died outwardly •, fo far it is from doing
hem hurt.

The Fat of Vipers hath very great ver-
i ues * for, befides that it is very good in the
Irefling of the Viper-flefli (as hath been
aid) it is able alfo, taking a drachm of it,
is ;:o give great relief in Epidemical difeafes ,
;! and to expel 1 the venom thereof. It is alfo
: very ufeful to facilitate the travel of wo-
men 5 and to diflipate the fwellings of

(158;

the throat, anointing it outwardly ther
with. It alfo much relieves Gouty pe
Tons, and ferves to refolve nodofides. !
unfwels all hard and inveterate tumors, at
even thofe that proceed fromVenereal di
eafes 5 and for this reafon ’ds, that tfean <
Vigo hath ufed it in the Plaifter which bea
his name.lt is likewife very good for Bun
ings,puftuls,7and all diftempers of the skii
and laftly, it is very powerful againft all tl
illnefles of the Sinews, and of great vernj
for the parts attackt by the Palfy. W
might alfo adde many other vertues,adfcr
bed by Authors to other parts of[the Vipe
but we forbear, becaufe we have not expt
rimented them.

CHAP

(t5?)

CHAPT. IV.

»

u i . .

0/ ^ Towder and Tro*
chifquesof Vipers .

J'

fi Ince we do not alwayes meet with
perfons, who, having need to make
kJ ufe of Viper-flefh, are difpofed to
at thereof 5 it is very neceflary to have
eady fuch remedies, that be as well ac-
lommodated to the inclination of the Pa-
ient, as fitted to remove the malady.
The knowledge , which Phyfi nans have
ad of the great Vertues of the Viper, joy-
ed to the difficulty, met with in the point
f pleafing Patients , hath obliged them
0 fearch for divers Preparations, in which
he Antients did not well fucceed 5 and if
?e would bind ourfelves to their way of
>rep3ring the Powder and the T rocbi[quesy
ve fhould Ioofe the principal vertue of the
/iper, and retain onely the moft ufelefs,
For, in the opinion, which they entertai-

/

( i<5© )

ned, that there remain’d alwayes fome v
pom in the flefti'of the Viper, if it we
not freed therefrom by fome preparath
or other $ their pra&ice was, to p
the fleth of Vipers in fome earthen poi
and having luted it, to fet it in a Bak
oven, after the Bread was drawn out, ai
to leave it there, till this flefh was reduc<
to powder. In which preparation the be
of this flefli, which is the Volatile Salt, w,1
certainly ditfipated. They alfo made fi
veral medicines with this powder, mi:
among other medicaments divers wayes
of which we need not to enlarge. We fha
content ourfelves , here to fet down
preparation of the Powder of Vipers, whic
Ihall be grounded on Reafon, and fhall r<
tain all the vertuesof the Viper5eafy all
toprepare,and very convenient for the Pal
tient to ufe.

Take then towards the end of Jprt33t
in the beginning of May, fuch a quantity c
Vipers as youpleafe, Maks and Females
chufing big ones, and fuch as are fat an
vigorous, and ufing none of thofe Females
which are already big with eggs ; and the
prepare thofe, you lhall have thus chofer
as follows : Without whipping and vex

in,

(i6i)

n them, cut off , with a pair of fizers3
lit heads and tailes , flda them9and emp*
[them of all their entrals, of which you
to feparate the heart and the Liver 5
1 lay afide their fat for its peculiar ufes>
lafh he trunks of the bodies, the hearts
1 livers in clear water, and after that in
ite wine* then dry them with a very
an linnen cloth , and having put the
irts and livers again into their trunks ,

1 all the trunks withfmall pack-thred,
h at one end, and hang them up in the
in the fhade , and leave them there, till
:y be well dryed 5 which will be in three
(four dayes. After that, cut thefe
inks into fmall pieces, and ffamp them
: great Brafs-mortar with an iron-peftle,
l fearce all through a very fine hair*
e, and fo keep it for ufe„ This is the
ht Powder of Vipers, which contains
the vertues $ to which maybe added
jrop of Cinamon-oyle, to give it a good
nt.

There are fome, who, to make this
uvder would have the trunks of Vipers
:t in pieces, and put together with their
>arts and livers in a Glafs-cucurbt , and
I'S covered with its head and luted, and

M fo

( i6z )

fo placed with a recipient, in a very ge
tie Balneum ; thereby , continuing tl
warmth for three dayes together, to dr
the phlegm of Vipers, accompanied w:
a fmall portion of the Volatile Salt, and
keep this liquor apart ; and then to ta
out of the Cucu. bite what ftiall rem;
there , and of it to make the powder
Vipers.

But, befiaes that this method is troub
fome enough •, that the fire of a Balneum
not fufficiendy flrong to fend forth enou
of the Volatile Salt, at a time when ’
not yet looien’d from its fubjedt 5 that ’
notwithftanding too much fo, not to en
infenfibly fome final portion, which wot
afterwards be wanting in the Powder, a
which alfo may exhale out of the watt
befides alfo that the Vipers are in dang
to be too much dry’d >in the Cucurbi
and even to be there rofted in part : V
efteem, there is caufe to prefer our Prep
ration to this, in regard it is much eafii
and, without any deftrudlion oralteratf
of the good parts of Vipers, carries aw
all their fuperfiuous and ufelefs hun
dity.

Y ou ’might notwithftanding fellow tl

w.1

(1^)

y in part, if you fliou^d defire to have
od Viper- water ; but then you muft in-
:afe the fire of the Balneum, and finifh
rdiftillation inmuchlefs time, and yec
:e l eed flot to haften the fire too mtich
the latter end, leaft the water fmell of
; Empyreuma or burning. You muft
), after you have taken out the parts
the Viper, that reft in the Cucurbite,

: them into a glafs-retorc well luted,,

1 fet this into a reverberating furnace,
>c and exadtly lute to it a great Recipient,
give it a fire increafed by degrees, and
ter about the end, to obtain the Vo-
le Spirit, Salt, and Oyle, that could not
by the fire of the Balneum-, which are
be feparated and redrifyed, as we fhall
hereafter. Then take a portion ofithis
latile Sale well redlified , and diftolve
;i diftilled water, and keep it carefully
well flopp’d bottle, as -an excellent
liedy • of which you may ihcreafe or di-
lifh the dofe, according to perfohs and
afions 5 and according as you fhall have
olved more or Ids of the Volatile Sale

□poh this occafion, I thought fit to
ertife thofe, who diftill Capons , Par-
M 2 nidges,

H

■

( i<54)

tridges, flices of Veal, or other parts
Animals, in a Glifs-limbec (as the cufto
is,') and who employ for that purpofe tl
fire of a Balneum , or that of Sand or 1
fhes ; that by a moderate fire they cann
make rife almoft any thing but ufek
fie . m •, and that, not being able to i
creafe the fire without making the diftill
water fmell of the Empyreuma} they wou
fucceed better, if in this they did, wh
I was juft now faying of the water and v
latile Salt of Vipers 5 and if they joyr
their water with the volatile Salt of the <
ftilled Animals, in which refides the ch
vertue, Thofe, that have no mind to ta
fo much pains, (hall do better not to gi
diftilled waters to their Patients, as t
cuftom is, fince they have no vertue at c
if none be communicated to them by tj
volatil Salt of the Animal,

As to the Trochifques , the Antiei
have as ill invented, and as ill order
them , as the Powder. For, not to ftay
blame here ( as I have done^ elfewhei|
the whipping, which they ufed, and whi
w. s not onely ufelefs, but alfo very no:
ous *, I fhall fay in a few words, that tj
decodtion, they made of the body of tj

Vij!

(l6j)

jiper in Water, with Salt and Anife, till
e flefli would fever'jfrom the bones,

: ihich they afterwards cad away as well as
ie broth, was not a Preparation of the flefli
the Viper, but rather a deftruffionjince

Iwas made to leave its principal vertue in
e broth ; and that they weaken’d it yet
sore, by incorporating it with very dry
ead, of which the proportion of a fifth
i four times as much weight of flefli ,
ough but little in appearance, came yet
, a moiety, fince that four ounces of
is flefli, and one ounce of bread (which
as fo dry that it could not beleflened)
lake onely two ounces of Trocbifqjtes 7
len they are well dry’d. This we have
ore at large examined in our Treatife of
e Theriaque 5 and becaufe their fault is
:ry eafily underdood , I fliall infill on
no farther •, nor on their reafons for
aking ufe of Boyling to corredt a ma-
gnity in the flefli, (of which there is none. )
d to be able to fever it from the bones,
lich they believe naught, or at lead un-
efull, which yet are very good 5 foraf-
uchas all their reafons are diffidently re-
Jted in the fame Book, and becaufe they
e yet more fojby what we have edablifli’d
f this. And

(i 66)

And although it be not alwayes nece:|
fary to mak eTro^ifqucs of Vipers, fine
we might be w ithouc them yet there b
jng fome ufe of them , and to prefer’
their name, you may take a little Gum;
Arabique, very white and pure, and r
duce it to powder, and infufe it in got
Malvafy , till it be well diffolv’d, and tl(
wine fomewhat tinged thereof: then tak
of the powder of Vi per, prepar’d as we har
lately directed, and incorporate it with
fufficient quantity of this gumm’d Malv
fy, braying them together in a MarbL
mortar with a woodden- peftle, and fo n
duce the whole into a fomewhat folid part
whereof make Ttochifques , of the fir
and drape you pleafe, and dry them in ti
fnade upon a hair-five.

Ifaid, that we might be without Trc
phifques, becaufe that having the Pov’j
der, which they are made of, that may fu
fice for our ufes-, but there is one incoi
veniency in the Powder, in that it wi
Tcarce keep any confiderable time, efpt
- ally if it be not well fiopt up, and if, be
lides, fome art be not ufed to hinder ti
breeding of worms in it : Whereas Trc

phifques, being made compleatby the ad

dido,

C l6i)

ion of Malvafy, andjw the clofe com-
flTion of the parts of the’ Powder, they
not fo eafily penetrated by the Air, nor
ubjedt to corruption. The T rochifques
ng dry/ they may be {lightly rubbed
kr with a little Balfom of pertly which
1 give them a good fcent, and help to
ferve them.

The Ufe both of the Powder and Tro-
fques is excellent and alike ? but the
xhifques are to be reduced jintopow-
, when they are to be ufed. Neither
them have an ill tafte, and they contain
the vertues , we have afcribed to the
(h of Vipers, as having loft nothing in
ing, made without the heat of the Sun-
ms, butafupeifluous moifture, which
ild ferve for noth ng but corrupt t' em,

: had remained. They may be given
ordial waters, broths, wine, or fome fie
o&ion , or you may make Bolus' s of
m withSyrrups, Conferves, or Cor-
l Confe&ions, or turn them into tablets
h fugar.

rheir main effetft is, to purify, open, pe-
rate, and to drive to the extremities of
lies all venom, corruptions, impurities,
erfluities, and they may be very bene-
M 4 ficially

(i62)

ficially ufed in many occafions for div<
maladies; withouMfte fear of any ill fucce
For both have this quality, that they do ;
wayes Tome good , but never any hari
T heir dofe is from a Scruple tp a dracli
or two •, and they may be given to all ag»
arjd fexesj and at all times.

CHAP T. V.

Of the Salt of Vipers made I j
the Ancients .

AMong many different Preparatic
of the Salt of Vipers, made by t
— -&• Ancients, of which we finde t
defcriptions in their Books, there is no
more famous, nor that hath been lon£
in life, than one that is very ample a
much enriched by many Alexiterial rem
dies •, whence tis alfo, that they gave
this Salt the name of Therucal. But h
ving considered this pompous Prepara

(,169)

. m, we do not wonder, that a much efteem-
! :d Author hath not g)ven it his approbati-
ng fince we cannot finde any thing in it,
hat is according to rule or reafon, no more
han there is in the reft. We finde, that
:he fentiments of that Author proceed
romanunderftanding fo judicious, andfo
mowing, that we cannot but fubfcribe to
:hem, almoft in all *• For, in the Calcina-
tion, theynfed, there remain’d nothing
out the fixt Salt, which contains but ve-
ry little vertue 5 Vipers, as all forts of A-
nimals , having but little of Fixt Salt,
whereas they have much of the Volatile ,
which foon rifeth in the Calcination, and
carries away with it the principal and the
moft eftential vertue of the Animal. They
were alfo much miftaken, when they
thought , that four Vipers , which they
burn’d with fourty pounds of Sea-falt, or
SalGemm& , or Sal Ammoniac, (as fame
would have it) and with a great quantity
of Simples , ftiould communicate great
vertues to thefe Salts and thefe Coales,
For in the Calcination, which they ufed
j to make in an earthen pot luted , with
1 its cover on , and yet in one place
pierced , the Volatil Salt of the

four

f 270)

four Vipers would <:ertainly fly quickly
away ; and if it hacpUyM (which yet we
do not grant) and there had been half an
ounce of it (which is a quantity beyond
what the four greateft Vipers could yield,)
what, I pray, would t hat be to 40. pounds
of Sea~falt,ana to many pounds of Coales, 1
more than a fmall rivolet mingled with the
Ocean i But as to the fixt Salt, four Vi- i
pers are not able to afford half a Scruple
of it.

’Tis alfo certain ,that both theSea-falc
and Sal gemme, do not perifli in the Calci-
nation, but Bill remain there. But if or-
dinary Salt Ammoniac be employed, the
Urinous and Volatile part, which is in that
Salt, will not fail to make its efcape, as
well as the Volatile Salt of Vipers, and
there will onely remain the fixt Saline part
of the Salt Ammoniac, mix’t with fome
terreftrial parts > which is that, we finde in
the Diftiliation, after we have driven out
all the Volatile Salt, of which afterwards,
changing the veffel and the fire, we draw
an acid fpirit, very much approaching to
that, we draw out of Sea-Salt, by wayes al-
moft like thefe.

Aitifls know alfo, that Herbs, Wood,

Horns,

070

Horns, B6nes, and other fuch like mat-
:es6? if they Ihould be Reined in an earth-
en pot, luted and covered, though a hole
,vere left in the cover, would alwayes be
tfterwardj found in the form of very black
:oales, although they had endured a great
ire5 and that the Salt cannot be feparated
:rom them, unlefs they be calcin’d again
n an open vefTel 5 or they being reduced
:o allies, the Salt be then fever’d from them
ay a Lixivium, and by Filtration.

On which occafion we relate an Exam-
pie of an imperfedt Calcination , which is
naturally made in the Earth about the
Summer- SolfHce ,of the end of the root^of
nany Plants,and among others,of Mugwort
ind Plantain > on which end,the fubterrane-
dus Fire^or, if you will, the Fire of the Sun,
working , and yet being furrounded by the
Earth, (which is to the root what the ear-
then pot, luted, is to the Vipers, and to
the Mixts, that were Ihut up with them )
burns it and reduces it to coales, but can-
not turn it to allies. I have often found
this to be true, and lighted upon a little
coal at the end of the root of thofe Plants,
at the time above-mentioned.

So that, although the Fixe Salt of the ad-
ded

(170

tied be Simples in the Coales, yet it wouh
have been more p^per, and more metho
dical, to have quite calcined thofe coale
to reduce them toafhes, and fo to drav
from them and to purify the., Salt fo
ufe , than to make people fwallovv th
grofs, earthy, and ufelefs part of thefe coales

Thofe Antients added to this pretend
ed Salt calcin’d, the powder of many Ai
lexiterial Druggs, which not being devef
ted of their vertue by any calcination
may communicate, and even alone furniflj
the greateft part of the good qualities, b]
them afcribed to this Salt. And ’tis upoi
the account of thefe principally, that th<
name of Thcriacal may belong to it, whicf
impertinently would be attributed to the
Vipers, fince they have loft their prime ver-
tue in the Calcination.

This Preparation of TheriacalS alt doth
fofficientiy ihew us, that the Antients did
not take pains to know the inward parts,
of which mix’t bodies are compounded,
and that they did not well know the na-
ture of the poyfon of Vipers , of which
they imagin’d they ftiould be infefted by
the fumes proceeding from their Calcina-
tion j although none could come from

C 173 )

hem, when there was none, as we have
nade appear. And though the fmell,
s well of the Vipers, as of the Simples,
vere 'troublefome , whilft they burned,
ret they were not therefore at all veno-
nous.

The little knowledge, which the An-
ients had , and many Moderns kill have,
>f the nature of the two Saks in Vipers,
lath led them into a great fault , viz, to
:alcine the bones of Vipers, to draw from
.hence, as they thought, the true Salt of
pipers, which they w’ere not at all like to
iinde, after they had diffipated it by Cal-
cination. T he firft fault hath drawn after
t a fecond *, for the fmall quantity of fixt

■ Salt, they found in them, not much fa-

■ tisfying them, carried thofe, that had no
great fenfe of honour or confcience, to a
my great abufe, which was, to mis
among thofe calcin’d bones a great quan-
tity of Sea-fait , to diffolve this Salt, and
and to boyle all together in water, to fil-
ter and coagulate it , and to fell at a
great rate this Counterfeit falc for true Sale
of Vipers.

But, to accommodate ourfelves to
thofe, who, intending better, will make

no

Mm- •

(174)

no ill ufe of it > and to furnilh them with
pleafing Salt'for tj/ofe, that may defire i
for ordinary ufe; we fhall here deliver th
way of preparing a Salt of Viper, that fha!
have much vertue ; the method of whicl
fhall be very eafy,and the ufe very conve
nient.

Take three dozen of great Vipers, wel
chofen; cut off their heads and tails, fie;
them, and empty the bodies of all thei
entrals, and wafh them well, [together witl»
the Heart and Liver : Boylall together ii
ten pints of common water, fo long till al
be perfectly boyled. Then ftrain it1, anc1
fqueefe well all the parts ; and in this de-
codtion diffolve four pounds of Sea-fak:
and carefully filter it > afterwards, coagu-
late, or, if you will,chryftallize this Salt
which will be found white and abounding
with the vertue of the Vipers, and of no il
take at all 5 which you may ufe in all things
as common Salt.

And to fiiew, that thefe boyled and!
fqueefed parts have left much of their ver-
tue in the Decodfion, and yet that they
have not left all, and that fiill there re-
mains fome of it, principally in the Bones;
lay them abroad, and dry them, and then

C 175 )

diftill them, and you will draw from them,
efpecially from the B^pes, a Volatile Salt
and oyl, but in much lefs quantity, then if
they had not been boyld.

If you would have a Viper-Salt of more
yertue, arid that might even be call’d The-
nacal , you muft proceed after the fame
manner , as hath been lately fet down ;
but in Head of Seal-Salt, take a like quan-
tity of Salt, drawn from Alexiterial and
Theriacal Plants, as the roots of Valeri -
*ny ImperatorUy Angelica, Leaves qS. Scot-
diumy the little Cent annum, Cardnm Bene-
iiBitSy andthelike. ’Tis true, that this
Salt is a little more difplealing to the caffe
than the former, but it may produce more
tonfiderable effects ,and be ufed in extraor-
dinary occafions.

Thefe forts of Salt have indeed good
pertue, and are convenient for laftingsefpe-
:ially the two firlf : But the Volatile Salt
lath fomething more particular, and con-
siderably better: the properties of it are
nnumerable, and it is an Epitome of the
excellent qualities , contained in Vipers.
We fliall nowfpeak of its Preparation, as
ilfo of the Phlegm, of what is called vo-
latile Spirit and Oyle, which accompany

C 17 O

it 5 and of the Fixt Salt, which remains
after diftillation, m*xed among the terre*
ftrial parts 5 and that done, weflialltrea
of their vertues and ufefulnefs.

WE make here publick oui
Preparation of the Volatile,
Sdt of Vipers, with the

fulnefs, becaufe we efteem it one of the
beft Medicines in Phyfick. ’Tis true in-
deed , that fome Authors have already!
fpoken of it > but there is none, thai
hath defcribed it with more exa&nefs -fh*r

CHAP. VI.

Of the Volatile Salt of Vipers :
and the Fixt Salt , ana
other parts , which are fe
parated hyfDijlillation .

more franknefs and chear-

\

(177)

?, nor that hath more defired, that eve-
one might, accorclingto this Method,
|>tainfor himfelf and his occafions a re-
jedy, which goes beyond many others ,

1 fay no -more. We hope, that our
ly of proceeding will be weil received by
i, and that , it there be any that fhail
ide fault with it, they will be fiich only,
;io are unwilling to communicate what
ey have, and often wrap it up under the
me of Secrets .

T ake onely the Bodies, Hearts and Li-
fts of Vipers, or, ( to have the more be*
ifit of all) add to them the Heads, Tails,
d skins, and generally all the parts of a
iper 5 of which you will have a care to
ke away ail the Excrements and Worms,
alfothe Eggs, that may be in the Ma-
lx of the Females. Small and great,
[ales and Females are of the fame good-
:fs, as alfo the Salt is, that fhail have
:en drawn from all the parts of the Body,
ry in the /bade all theft parts feparate-
, then cur them into bits, and fill with
iiem your Glafs-limbec up to the neck,
ihich is to be well luted. Put it in the
lidftof a Reverberating furnace, prepor-
Jon'd to its bigoefs , cover it with its
< N head

/

( «78)

head, and (hut the Regifter of it; Fit t<
the Limbec a Glafs-recipient, which muf
be very large* and lute well all the joynts
Then begin to give a fmall fire, which con
tinue for abouc two hours , fo that th
Limbec be heated gradually , and th
Phlegme begin to diftil into the Recipiem
Afterwards increafe the fire gently unto
fecond degree; and give a little openin
at the Regifter, and continue the fame fir
likewife two hours ; then increafe it, open
ing the Regifter yet more, and fo continv
two other horns > at the end of which yo
are to give it the fire of thelaft degree
quite opening the Regifter, and you mu
continue to drive the fire , till no mof
come out of the Limbec, and the Recip'
ent be all obfcured by the Volatile Sal
which will flick to its fides, towards tf
bottom, and to the upper part. Then h
theveftells cool, and the Furnace alfo; a
ter which you are to un-lute the Recipient
wherein you will finde the Phlegme, th;
part which is called Spirit, , the Volati)
Salt, and the Oyle mingled together ; ti
cept a part of the Volatile Salt , that ma
yet adhere to the upper part, and to tf
fides of the Recipient, which you may de?|

( 1 19 >

?roufly take away, and, if you will, keep
>rufe, as ’tis. This Volatile Salt, Spirit,
■id Oyle, are fo penetrating, that you ar§
at able to hold your nofe over ita
Powre out, what you find in the Red-
ent, into a Glofs-Body, which muft be
rge, tall, broad below, and whofe figure
)es up ftraightn'ing towards the orifice »

• which you muft adapt a Glafs-head, thafi
to have fomewhat a high body , and
rge, and a very ftraight mouth, and pro^
irtioned to that of the Glafs-body. Lute
e joynts exadly with paper and ftarch^
c the Body in a Sand-bath, and fink is
wn as low as the matter reacheth • fit a
i all Recipient to the beak of the Head*
id lute that alfo: kindle under it a very,
ntlefire, and order it fo, that the Sand
d the Glafs-body may be heated gent-
; after which you may increafe it a little,
t onely fo as to make it ftrong enough
drive up the Volatile Salt 5 which, be-
l dif-engag’d from the parts of the Vi -
i s bodies, rifeth eafily* It v ill be fub-
led, and flick every whereto theinfide
the Head, like a Chryftallized Snow,
lere will arife at the fame time a little

the Spirit, which is properly nothing

( i8o )

but a portion of ihe Volatile Salt, havir
carried up with it a little of the Phlegm
that will run into the little Recipient,andi
which even a part will congeal into Chr
fhls. You muft alwayes be careful in m
naging the Fire 5 for how little foev
you increafe it, the Phiegmowill rife wii
fome of the Oyle, and they will difibh
and hide the Salt > and then you muft r
commence the Rectification 3 butgover
ing the fiie well, when you fliall fee tl
Head well lined with Salt, which will 1
very white and very Chryftalline,you mu
then un-lute it, and take it off, and 111
on an other head, inftead of the formd
You are to take out the Salt, as foon ail
as well as you can; and to endofe it ini
ftrong bottle , with fuch a mouth, til
the Salt may pafs through it, and whil
may be exa&ly clofed, without which tj
Salt will eafily flyaway. Mean time,yi
are to continue a like fire under the Gla
body, and when no more of that Volat
rifeth, you are to defift, and to take c
of the head the Salt there gathered, a
keep it as the former. Your Sand bei
cold, take off the Glafs-body, and deer
from it the remainder through a gr<

c 181)

Slafs-funnel , covered with paper for fil-
ration, held over Tome vefiell. All the
^hlegm will pafs thorough the Paper;
>uc you’l finde Tome Oy le there, that can-
• tot pafs, which you may make run through
he Funnel into a bottle, having pierced
he paper with Tome convenient inflru-
jnent.

;.l Thofe that fhall defire a high and much
i more perfed R edification of this Volatile
?a ialt, may make it in manner following.

! Take two pounds of Ivory calcin'd to
yhitenefs, and reduced to a fine powder 5
it i/hich is to be mixt with four ounces of
his Salt. Then put all into a new Glafs-
1 tody, of the fame fliape with the former,
no this let there be adapted and luted a
iilindHead, orfuchanone, the extreme
y of whofe beak is well flopp’d (for thAt
; ufelefs for this purpofe, there being no
'hlegme; and if there were, the calcin’d
vory being a dry Body, and in part fpun-
y, would lick and retain it, as it would
Mb the Oily part, that might happen to
■e among the Volatile Salt: ) let there he
;iven to thisGlafs-body a moderate Fire,
vith the fame cautions as before $ the Salt
/ill quickly rife, and flick to the Head;

N 3 where,

(1 Si)

where, the Sublimation being ended, yc
will finde it in the form of Chryftals, whi
like fnow $ which you are to put up at
keep in a bottle exactly clofed, to ufe
upon occafion. This Salt thus re&ifh
(mells not of File, and hath nothing bi
its own natural ttrong- and penetratir
(cent.

There may perhaps be found Artift
who will take it ill, that we have been ;
large and fo particular in exadfly fettir
do wn all the things-, that are to be obfe
ved in preparing and rectifying this Sal
But it is not for them, that we have doi
it, but for thofe, who not knowing it w
be glad to learn it, W e have given the
Sincerely the true means ufed by ourfelver
which they may alfo praCtife in preparir
and rectifying the Salts of the parts of t
Animals. Thofe that have any tinCtu
of Chymiftry , will here find enough i
teach themfelves *, as we have done, at]
do daily. Mean time they mud not t
offended , that there remain with us uj
pn thisfubjed fuch things , which cou'
pop be faid, nor well comprehendedbi
by' thofe that have labour’d a great whil
• ip rhk Art. Intelligent perfons > thi

(*»})

all examine our proceeding, or have a
ind to experience the fame , will find
tir ingenuoufnefsjby finding thefhccefs of
1 we have made them exped , together
ith the facility, we give, of the Operation.

! hey will alfo find, that our wayoffil-
bg the Retort as far as the neck , is more
oper than that of leaving a third part
npty,as fome would have it, in the Diftil-
tion of the Bones , Horns, ?and other dry
irtsof Animals*, although thofe, that
iderftand it, pradice it not but in matters
tat will melt, and may break the Re-
irt , or let fomething run out by the
;ak , when his fill’d too high. But in
y fubftances, asareour Vipers, and the
orns, and Bones of Animals, Crabs-
res. Stones, and the like, it is enough to
ave this neck empty, to give vent to
le parts raifed from the matter , and that
etogo into the Recipient. They will
fo acknowledge , that our way to leave
le Oyl among the other fubftances,when
e will fever them by fubliming and redd-
ing them, is not without reafon,in regard
latthe Oyl hath commonly with it much
1 olatile Salt , which leaves it, and after-
fard rifethin the Redification,

We

( 184)

We efteem alfo , that this Preparatio;
will be preferr’d before many others , tha
are operofe and have little method i
them*, and, among others, before the Re6t j
fkation, which home pretend to make t
the addition of Spirit of Salt to tf
Phlegme, and to that which is call’d Sp
rit, and to the Volatil Salt: which inftes
of rectifying this Salt , and of making
purer and better , changes its nature ^ ai
inftead of fubliming it to the Head andtl
top of the Body (as they have pretendi
k did, after the Phlegm was rifen,)tl
Spirit of Salt rifeth it felr in itsfirft forn
initsfmell, colour and tafte, leaving
the bottom the Salt, which is there four
like fixed, having the taft and the oth
qualities of the Spirit of Salt, but beir
leflen’d'of two thirds of its weight. Th
kind of men have hli\i Eooks with mai
Preparations they underhand not, nor ha
experimented : For , forgetting, amor
other things , in the procefs <sff this, fu
methods as are abfolutely n^cefTary , ar
without which they do not mg, they pr
rmfe im o.'Tible fucceffes , and putti
the 'arc bef ore the Horfes , they fix t
|alt when they pretend to fublimeir, a

(185;

3 very unadvifedly proftitute themfelves

0 ihame and confufion. For , inftead of

1 edifying fir ft the Volatile Salt ( as more
nteliigent men might have taught them ,
)f whom they had borrowed this Prepara-
don ) and of fubliming it , and of fepara-
:ing it by this means from other parts >
l:hey labouring to difguife the Prccefs ,
have retrenched the main and moft ne-
cefiary part of it , and employed at the
Very firft that method, vyhich they fliould
have' obferv d to fix it , believing that
that would fublime it; not confidering ?
that having by that means inverted na-
ture, the fuccefs would prove anfwerable
to it. I fet a fide their unwarrantable pra-
ctice of adding a pound of luke-warm wa-
ter among the fubftances found in the
Recipient , after the firft diftillation,fince
kis an Augmentation, not onelyufelefs ,
but troublefome, of that Phlegme, which
muft needs be feparated.

Now, although one partof this Salt,

: remaining in the Body of the Limbec, may
i yet afterwards becom Volatil , by mixing
: it with feme Lixiviat Salt , and making it
! to fublime; yen that is not done but with
| a new and very great lofs of its weight 5

0*0

Bor Is the tafte of it better than of that
which fhall have been well re&ified accor-
ding to the method , we have before deft
cribed ; fince the Lixiviat Salts, by revi
ving it in part , give it as difpleafing a fme
as the former. We may further add here
that the ufe of tall and ftrait-neck’tBo
dies is much more proper for this Re&ifr-
cation, than the ufe of Matrafles wicf
longnecks , myfelf having experimented
that the Phlegme fals back again more ea*
lily, and that the Vplatil Salt rifeth pu-
rer in the Bodies of our fafhion; of whicf
th t Figure maybe feen on the 1 Title page *
where alfo is that of the Retort and the Re-
cipient, for the firft Diftillation.

Now although the fame men, that
have given us caufe to reprehend them ,
have affirmed contrary to truth , that
there is no fixt Salt in the parts of Ani-
mals: To prove that there is , and to be-
nefit by that of the Viper; Take what
fhall remain in the Retort, commonly
called the Caput Mortuum , which you
will find of the form and colour ofCoales;
calcine it in a Furnace, or, to fave expences,
in a Potters Oven , till all become white
and of the form of Chalk , pulverize it

C 187)

Well , and make it boyl in a competent
quantity of water, that may receive and
diffolvethe Salt 5 filter it 3 and make it
euaporate and confume. You'l find at
thebotcqma coagulated Salt; though in
a fmall quantity , and fuch an one, as that
of five pounds of Viper- bones well cal-
cin'd , we have obtain’d no more than
three ounces of fix’t Salt, This Salt
hath a very ffiarp and poynant tafte ; it is
Lixiviat, and approaching enough in di-
vers regards to the fixt Salt of Tartar.
You’l find on the Filter the Terreftriai
part , dripp'd of all its vertue; which then
may juftly be call d Caput Uertuum.
And thus you’l have the Phlegme, than
which is call'd Spirit, the VolatilSalt,
the Oyl, the Fixt Salt, and the Earth;
into which all the parts of the Viper have
been reduced in their reparation.

CHAP. VII,

(188;

CHAP. VII.

Of the Fixation i of the Volatil
Salt of Vipers.

ALthough the Volatile Salt of Vii
pers have in ic , to fpeak 'truth
nothing offensive , but its ftron^i
and piercing Smell, and that thofe, who
fhall take into their mouth the weigh
of a good number of grains , cannot re<
ceive from it any other trouble but thai
of this Sent , which yet boon pafleth a-
way, this Salt leaving afterwards afaline
and very agreeable tafte 5 yet notwith-j
fhnding many perfons^ offended with the!
piercing odour , which is firft perceived in
this Salt , and befides diffatisfied with its
eafy Avolation, unlefs it be extreamely
well clofed 3 have endeavoured to fix ic ,
and fo to free it from thisfmel , not con-
fidering that this fmel cannot be altoge-
ther feparated from this Salt 5 buc its ver-
tue muff be fo too , and that the fixation
changes its nature : And inftead of conten-
ting

C IS 9 )

ing themfelves to re&ify ic well , there-
iy to carry away , as much as may be, the
dventitious fmel , which ic may have ac-
[uired by the violence of the fire by the
irftdiftillation, they have fometimes al~
ogether deftroyed it, and have dealt
vith it , as if one would deprive Mu[c and
4mber-gris of their good fent , and Colo *
mntida of its bitternefs5 and many com*
)oundsof their operations , which would
\i lot be what they are , if you ihould robb
igl :hemof theleaft ofthofe parts that com-
:i x)fe them.

tf We fay therefore, that after the Redli-
i flcation of this Volatil Salt, ( fuch an one
c is we fhall fet down beneath, )the beft and
iureft preparation would be, to do no-
thing elfe to it, but to make it to be ufed in
chat condition, only mixing with it things
accomodated to the Patients tafte, or with
fuch other remedies , as do not change
its nature , nor make it loofe any thing of
its force or vertue.

If the Fixed Salt of Vipers were capa-

Ible to arreft and retain the Volatil , there
were then nothing to be faid againft this
fixation, becaufe having been both for-
med jointly and in the fame body, they

have

(l?°)

have no averfion to, but rather are able p
help one another > But this common ori
gin, and this friendfhip which theyhav
contra&ed , whilft they lived together ii;
one and the fame fubje£i,hinders them fron
deftroying one another, and maketh,tha :
what is Fixe can nor will change th^naturi1
of the Volatil. And indeed, although!
you mixe them together , and that th<
quantity of the Fixe be five or fix time:*
greater than that of the Volatil, and that
they may alfo lodg with one another 5 yet1
they both equally keep their nature and
vertue, and they may be feparated by fire,
and manifeft at all times their feveral and
diftindf vertues. But this hinders not the
taking one Salt among the other, nor that
the Fixe fliould not then borrow fome-
what of the fubtilty of the Volatil, the!
better to penetrate the Entrals and Vefiels;
to o pen the more vigoroufly the obftru&i-
ons , and to expel the impurities, it meets j
with, by fiege or urine; and that, on the !
contrary , the Volatil Salt, helped by the I
Fix’t Salt, ihould not carry away and drive
out through the pores of the skinor other
ways , the more grofs and more vifcous ?
parts of the humors , that perhaps might-1

iiiwis

0*0

ive efcaped its quick and fubtileoperati-
ii: For which ufes , both Salts maybe
ix’d together upon occafion^ without un-
making an impofiible fixation.

But efpecially , the fixing of this Vola-
li Salt by guick-lim cannot pafs with all
.rtifts but for an operation altogether def-
iu&ive to it 5 and ’tis that, which is moft
: all to be avoided , becaufe not only
carries away the fmel, ttfte, and vertues
: this Salt, but quite changeth its na-
ire, and converts it into its own, by pe-
lifying the fame.

The Fixation of this VolatilSalr, by
re Spirit of Salt, although it feem tode-
roy it and change its nature, in that it
irries away the fmel and tafte of the Vo-
til Salt, may notwitftanding be admit-
;d rather than the other , in regard that
re Spirit of Salt , by preserving the ver-
le it hath to open all the obftrudf ions of
re inward parts , working upon the Vo-
itil Salt, may appropriate to it felf fome-
hing of its vertue, efpecially that which
i able to fecond itsa&ion, and to expel
ogether with it , by urine or other ways ,
he moft tenacious and moft ftubbornhu-
rors. Thofe that would expel the hu-
mors

(102)

mors by thefe ways, may ufefally prepar
it after this manner.

Mix four ounces of the Volatil Salt <
Vipers , well redfifyed, with four ounci
of Water i put them into aGlafs-Cucu
bite Somewhat high, ofanarrowmoutl
broad and flat towards the bottom , ho
ding about two pints. Fit to its mout
a Glafs-funnel, the end of whofe pipe
very narrow : Lute the funnel quite rour
about the orifice of the Cucurbite , I
that there may be no other aperture br
that of the end of the funnel. Thf
powre , little by little , and drop- wifi
fome Spirit of Salt well redfified upci
the Volatil Salt. At firft there will be
conflidt betwixt them , which will cau
an ebullition , but that of a fhort duratioi
Continue to powre upon it of the fan
Spirit of Salt , gently and leifurely,acco
ding as you find the ebullition ceafe , an
by intervals ftir alfo the Cucurbite 5 an
repeat this fo often, that at laft there aj
pear no motion any more , and tf
Spirit oi Salt have as ’twere mortified an
fixed the Volatil Salt. Then place tf
Cucurbite in fome receptacle furnifh’t witt
Saudi fit to it a head , lute it (though i

(193)

he beginning that be not neceffary ) and
ya flow fire draw away all themoifture
if the Spirit of Salt, and of the Volatil
alt , which will rife almoft infipid. Cor.*’
nue the fire ftill, and when you fhall pe -
five a tafte of the Spirit of Salt in what
iall be diftill’d , change the Recipient ,
icreafe a little the fire , and drive it ( yet
'ithout too much violence,) until there
iftil no more, and that the Salt remain
: the bottom of the Cucurbite altogether
ry and of a gray colour. You’lfind in
le Recipient a Spirit of Salt of the fame
tfte, of the fame colour, and of the
:me force it had when it was powr’d up-
n the Volatil Salt*, hut you fhall not
nd any part of the Volatil Salt rifen to
le head , nor to the top of the Cucurbit,

; fome have given out it doth, without
aving experimented it , as we have done,
‘he gray Salt, found at thebortom, is
ut in a fmal quantity , being leflen’d ai-
iioft of two t hirds : It’s tafte is very fbarp,
king, and much differing from what it had
lefore it was fix’d , and as ’twere mortifi-
d by the Spirit of Salt. After this you
bay diffolve this Salt in vvater;filterit,and
lake it evaporate , and letting it cool ,
O you!

( i?4 )

you’l find at the bottom a final quantity
of Salt coagulated in the form ofChry
ftals. Powr out by inclination the wate
fwimming on the top, to have the Salt bj
itfelf, which you may dry in the Air , o
the Sun , or over a little fire. You ma
alfo make good ufe of the Salt that Ilia
have remained in the water thatfwam
top, by making it evaporate in part
Chryftallizing and drying it, as the for
mer. You might, if you pleafed,very we|
omit luting the Funnel upon the Cucurbit
when you will powre the Spirit of Salt ur
on the Volatil *S"alt 5 forafmuch as we hay
found by experiment , that in the open
tion of the Spirit of Salt upon the Volat
Salt, there rifech nothing but phlegme
that hath neither vertuenor fmel5 althoug
the farneperfons , that have err’d in man
things in the rectification cf the Volat
Salt , have fear’d they fliouid loofe then1
Ina Volatil Spirit, which was only i
their imagination: And the luting, whic
we have advifed , was only to prevei
peoples belief, that apart ofthe Volat
Salt might haveefcaped tha.t way.

But although this Volatil Salt appe:
fix’t , and remain as fuch at the bottom t

ti!

C 195)

he Cucurbit , after diftillation , ye£
here is a part, which retakes its former
rature , and becoms Volatil again , if it
e mix’d with Salt of T artar , or with
Dme other Lixiviate Salt , putting them
Dgether in a fubliming veflel. For thefe
jxiviate Salts , being of a nature con-
rary to acid Salts and Spirits , do morti-
y them and retain them to themfelves 3
nd let go the Volatil Salts > which the a-
id fpirits had , as ’twere, mortified and
;x’d , and all that was Volatil in this fee-
ringlyfix’t Salt, rifeth in a white form,
nd hath almoft the fame tafle and the
ime other qualities of the Volatil Salts
/ell rectified. Yet you will alfo find there
great diminution of its weight, fo that
: will be more advantagious to keep it in
he condition, it was in before this lafl
iblimation-, the greateft advantage of
hich is, to come to know, that the fix-
tion, that hath been made by the Spirit
f Salt, although it have as ’twere chang-
ed the nature of the Volatil Salt, and
iid its diaphoretique quality under that of
hediuretique, yet hath not quite deftroy*
d it, fince there is fome part, that can
Jtake its priftine form and venue,

O a

This

( Ip6)

This Salt thus fix’d poffeffeth the vei
tues of a Spirit. of Salt concentred, bi
they are found augmented^ by thofe
it hath borrowed from the Volatil sal
Thofe, who wou’d only carry avvay, byi
rine or fiege, the fuperfluous humours (
the body, may ufefully prepare and en
ploy it 5 but thofe, that (hall ufe the V<
iatile Salt well rectified, without chan;
ing its nature, nor diverting its adlion l
any fixation, will finde therein fuch effedl
as will be incomparably more apparent ai
more fenfible, and will not wafte of it I
much.

CHAI

C-JP7)

CHAPT. VIII.

9

Of the Vertues of the V ilatile
Salt of Vipers, and of what
the other parts feparated by
TOifida on, may perform.

THE Volatile Salt of Vipers is to
be confider d , as a Sun, as well
among the parts, that rife by di-
lillation, as among thofe that reft in the
Letort$ there being none among thofe
hat are come over, but have borrowed
:om ft almoft all the vertueit can have ;
or any of thofe that have ftay’d, but have
eed ofit,?or are ufelefs without it. The
•legm that rireth ftrft, carries alwayes fome
art with it, without which it would pro-
ace no effedt. That which is called
pirit, is nothing elfe, to fpeak aright, but
Volatile Salt, which in the distillation
O 3 hath

hath been followed by a little Flegtne
diffolving it, and giving it the form of a
Spirit: which may be (hewed by the Re-,
dbfication, wherein that faline volatil pari,
is feparated, raifed, and coagulated into 2
white and chryftalline forme, aiidleaveth
at the botom of the cucurbite the moi-
fture that had changed its nature, and i;
nothing elfe but flegm. We fay, on thi:,
occafion, the fame thing of what man)
Authors improperly call the Volatil Spi-
rit of an humane skull, of Harts»horn, anc
of other parts of Animals, they being no-
thing elfe but Volatil Salts mixe witl
flegme, which they afterwards quit, whei
they are re&ified. The Oyle alfo woul<'
have but very little vertue, if it borrowei
no Volatil fair, and if it retained not ini
a good part thereof, as may be obfervei
in the R edification : for, if theOylewer
meafur’d , or weighed, before ’tis put ai
mong the reft into the cucurbite for re&i
fication, and if it were weighed again afte
that all the Volatil Salt isrifen, it wouli
be found much diminiihed in quantity
and in ftrength alfo, becaufe moft of th
Volatil Salt, which had joyned it felf t<
it, hath been carried away by the rediiica

099 )

an. So thofe, that feparate the Oyle
om the other parts to reftify them, and
!’ho ufe it not but for wounds or ulcers,
jid to take away fuperfluities, dodoubt-
ifs not know it aright 5 for it is alfo en-
dow’d with other vertues more confident
lej of which we fhall fpeake in this Chap-
7. The Fixt Salt, which refts in the Re-
)rt, mix’t among the terrefirial part, al-
aough it is to be put in the rank of Lixi-
iat Salts, and poftefifeth few other qua-
ties , but thofe of Salt of Tartar , yet
.’tains fomething of the nature of the Vo-
idle fait. And thofe, that have confide-
?d this Salt as a Caufliek , have had good
lccefs with it, without knowing its na-
ire, feing they imputed it to the maligne
arts, which they believed to be in Vipers,
/hereas they ftioald have afcribed it to
he nature of Lixiviate falts. But this
bit being taken at the mouth , will be
auch more effeftual, if you mingle forne
!/olatil Salt with it*, this Cauftique fa-
culty not hindring but that it may be taken
afely and beneficially in appropriated li-
quors, as many other lixiviate Salts are.

The Terreftrial part hath nothing in it3
:hac deferves to be confidered, and it may
o 4 juftiy

(200 )

daftly be called Terra mortua^ Dead earth.!
after it is freed from its fixed Salt. So thai
all the parts, that rife by d filiation, a:
well as thofe that cannot rife, are of fmal|
force, or altogether ufelefs, vvichout th<i
Volatil Sale. It is therefore upon gooc
reafon, that we attribute to it the principal
vertues, which a Viper can furnilh.

The fimilitudeof fubftance, which th
Volatile bait of Viper hath with the fpi
rituous parts of our Body, conjoyn’d to it i
fubtile and piercing quality, maketh, thai
accommodating itfelf to their condition
and finding all liberty in its adlions,it pro
duceth all theeffedts, it is capable of, ant
penetrateth without any oppofition inn
the mod fecret and the molt remote part!
of the Body. It hath this peculiar, tha|
though it adl as a Soverain, and finde no
thing of refiftance to its dominion, yet i
exercifeth it not as a Conquerour, nor a
a Dedroyer , but rather as a Reftorer c
the places and parts,where it pafleth i an
although all its courfes be extraordinart
quick and precipitate, yet they are fo we
meafured and fo well diredted, that no pa
of the Body milTeth them, and that nor
of its depsjis unufeful, but rather very be

nefici;

(201)

-ficial to all the places, where it paf-

r Now fince the flcftuhe heart, the liver,
id the ocher parts of the Viper, taken as
.aAlimen^or as a Medicine,may ferve for
le cure of many maladies, and produce ve-.
i confiderable tffe&s > ’tis not at all tobe
oubted, but that this Salt, which is the
10ft fubtile and the moft potent of them
11, is fomething more fublime and more
fficacious. And we are afTur’d, that if it
.■ere well known to us, it would pafs for an
Imoft Univerfal medicine; men would be
areful of preparing it, and we Ihouldfee
t often prefcribed by Phyfitians, and find
t fucceed in innumerable obftinate difea-
es> that are but feldom and difficultly
:ured.

To Judge well of the Effedls, which
his Volatile Salt can produce in our Bo-
lies, we mull know its manner of operati-
)n, which is, to open, to comminute, to
ittenuate, to pierce, and to drive to the ex-
:reme parts of the Body, and through the
pores of the skin, all the impurities, and
ill the ftrange bodies, that can get out by
ithofe wayes. Further, it is an enemy to
all corruption, very friendly and very agre-

( 202 )

able to our nature, which it affifts and for
tifies, enabling it to expell, not onely b]
the pores of the skin, but alfo by fiege an*
urine, and by all the Emuruflories of th
Body, the fuperfluous humors, which mo
left it: Whence it comes to pafs, that i
produces admirable effe&s upon a thoui
fand occafions, curing a great number o
ficknefies, or at leatt giving great relie
therein, even in thofe, that ars moft refra
&ory,and moft difficult to cure, fuch asar
Apoplexies, Lethargies, Convulfions, Pal
fies, and many other maladies, believed t<
Jhave their fource in the Brain. It is alfo
great relief to the Diftempers of the Breaft
asSwoundings, Palpitations of the Heart
Difficulties of Breathing, and Pleurifies
Befides it particularly unftops the Obftru
dlions of the Liver,Spleen, Mefentery, an*
other parts of the lower Belly. It diflipate
all inward impoftumes, in their rife, an<j
diflodgeth fecret and unknown pains
which have their origin in the Spirits. I
helps digeftion , the purification of th<
mafs of the blood, and its diftribution tc
all the parts of the Body, and refolves anr
prevents coagulations : And fo being ar
Enemy to all corruption, it is very propei

fo,

0°3)

>r all forts of Fevers, caufed thereby*

5 for mod intermittent Feavers, and par-
icularly Quartans, It alfo worketh pOw*
rfully in the diftempersof the Matrix %
nd is a remedy to all the vices of the skim,
nd to the Leprofy it felf: but above ail,

:is fpecifique againft all Bitings and fting-
ngs of venomous creatures, againft all ve-
10ms and poyfons,if they be not corrofive*
or in that cafe, recourfe mud prefently be
rad to Vomitives and to Unduous things,
ifter which it produceth good effeds. It
lath a particular vertue againft the Plague,
jgainft all Contagious difeafes,and Epide-
mical ones, fuch as are the Meafels,Smali
Pox, and the like.Irj a word^thelndudions,
we can draw from the great number of Ex-
periments, we have feen of it , at diffe-
rent times, oblige us to affirm, that its ver-
tues goes beyond what can be expreffed.
And thofe, that fhall make reflexion on
what we have faid of it, will be able toap-
| ply and ufe it beneficially to many other
fickneffes, which to enumerate would be
too prolix and to® tedious.

In the mean time, we cannot forbear to
s relate here a very remarkable Experiment,
made upon a Gentleman, who fuffgred

aboHt

r 2o4;

about a month fince, a violent and corn
nual paine, doubled and redoubled, attl
right part of his front pretty near the Terr
pie : the end of a finger might cover th
place of the pain-, there appeared no rednei
nor fwelling, and there was perceived n
hardnefs. Yet the pain, though it was, a
't were, fixed in a point, was communica
ted to the other neighboring parts, fo tha
theGentleman could not chew, nor fo muc!
as open his mouth to take down a littL
broth, but with extreme pain, thougl
hunger urged him. ThePhyfitians, tha
faw him,had ufed feveral means to relievf
him, and, among the reft, Vena- fedtionj
in the arm and foot; they had purged hire
often > they had employed frictions of his
neck andfhoulders ; they had applyed tc
him Veficatories, and Snailes, behind his
eares: they had caufed his temporal arte-
ry to be open’d, and drawn from him ten
or. twelve ounces of arterial blood , and
then cauterifed the Aperture ; they had
alfo preferibed him powerful Sudorifiques,
which were continued many dayes morn-
ing and evening, and had made him fweat
very copioufiy *, and the Patient himfeif,
of hfs own accord, being extremely pref-

0°5 )

;d by 'the violence of the pains, caufed
'ne of his upper teeth* which was very
)und, to be pulled out, hoping thereby
d give fome vent to them : But after he
ad ufed allthefe means in vain, onedofe
,f the Volatil Salt of Vipers* given in
vine, remov’d prefendy all the pain,
yhich caufed as great a wonder in the Af-
iftants, as fatisfaCtion in the Patient. This
o furprifing effect, which demonftrateth
ijetter, than all reafons, the force and effi-
cacy of this Volatil Salt, may alfo conclude
:he difcourfe of its Vertues.

There remains now, that we fay fome-
:hing of the vertues of the Ojle , which ri-
'eth by Diftillation with the Volatil Salt,
Df which it alfo retains a part. Its ftrong
fent is the caufe, that it is not often em»
ployed; whence it comes, that fometimes
it is more advantageous to the Preparer,
to profit by the rectification of the Vola-
til Salt , which it hath* than to keep it
in its condition for Patients that fhallufe
it notwithftanding its ftrong fmel and ill
tafte. This - fmel is fo intimately ftick»
ing to it, that there is no rectification ,
able to remove it. But we make herewith
known to all thofe, that fhall be able to

com-

(20 6 )

comply with the ufe of it , that it is one (
the beft and moft efficscious outward r<
medies in all Phyfick, provided it t
made ufe of, when Stis yet indued wit
its Volatil .Salt: For it opens , atteni
ates , refolves , is abfterfive , and adm
rably cleanfing 5 and we know , wh
have experimented it , that the continue
anointing with it , accompanied with thJ
internal ufe of the Volatil Salt , producer'
admirable eflfe&s in the parts labouring un
derthe Palfy, and deprived of motion1
and even in thofe , that are dryed for wan
of the communication of Spirits and nou
rifliment. A little Spunge imbibed wit.
this Oyl , carried in a little box pierced
and often fmelled to , is very good in th
time of the Plague , to keep off the il
Air , and to fortify the Brain , and th<
noble parts. It is alfo good to make it tc
be fmelled , to put of it in the noftrilsjant
to annoint the Temples with it, in Hpi'
leptical Symptoms , and for thofe , thai
are troubled with giddinefs, and hav<
their Brain charged with vapors or flegme
for it gives them vent , and difpels their
powerfully. It hath alfo aconfiderabh
effeft again!! the fuffocations of the Ma •

( J07 )

\jc\ and againft all forts of worms 5 in
iiich cafe , fome drops of it may even be
venat the mouth, in wine, or broth;
id the hollow of the ftomach anointed
erewith. > It vifibly diflipltateth all out-
3rd contufions , and ferveth much for
ward ones , and Specially for thofeof
j.e Head. It refolves tumours and hard-
:ffes , giving iffue by the pores to fuch
atter, as can tranfpire, dige fling the
offer , and bringing them to a laudable
ppuration. It is alfo abflerfive and clean-*
th all forts of Ulcers, and healeth all
le diftempers of the skin , even the moft
ubborn , provided the internal caufe
lereof be removed. In all which evils its
Fetls are yet more quick and powerful ,
it be enforced by the internal ufeof the
'olatil Salt, which, in a word , is that ,
hich gives it its main vertue.

We (hall add ,on this occafion, that the
indents valued very much their Oyl of
ripers, which they prepared feveralways,
)tne by infufion , fome by the deco&ion
f Vipers in Oyl of Oliues. If they had
ghtly proportioned the quantity of Vipers
>ith that of the Oyl 5 if they had added
hereto what moifhire was neceffary ; and

if

(208)

if in this they had employed fome go,
method , this Oyl might produce go
effeds , and we fhculd approve of i
and refer our Readers to it. But find!
nothing regular in all the Preparations,
them defcribed , we thought good h<
to fet down one, according to all t
rules of Art.

T ake about the end of May , or t
beginning of $une , a dozen great \
pers newly taken, cut each of them in
leven or eight pieces, and put them intc
well glazed and ftrong earthen pot: po’
upon them three pounds of Oyl ofOliv<
and one pint cf white wine 5 cover t
pot well, and make it boyl over a gem
nre'to the confumption of the moiftui
Then ftrain all, fqueeze out the Vip<
well, and keep the Oyle for ufe. Int
mean time, fear not (as the Antients di
the Vapors, that may ifliie out of the p
during the decodion ; for the Vipers,
we have faid, have no poyfon in all th<
body. This Oyle, thus prepared, ha
not, ’tis true,'all the ftrength and vertu
of the diftilled Oyle, of which we we
fpeaking a little before •, but it may ve
well ferve for an oyncment in all the c

ifempe

(20£)

empers of the skin, in contractions of
i;rves, in rheumatifmes, & in many other
jhls.

a — — - — — — —

CHAP. IX.

f the Manner of ufing the
Volatil Salt .

Lthough it be impoflible to fpecify
in particular all the wayes of Ufing
. ^ the Volatil Salt of Vipers, no
)re than one can well enumerate the
knefles, that may have need of it 5 Yet,
fome degree to fatisfy thofe that may
fire it we fhall make here an Abridg-
?nt of a good part of what we have feen
uftifd by Pyhfitians,that perfectly know
z qualities and proprieties of this Salt,
i ufe it daily to the great benefit of their
0 tients.

You muft fir (l know, that its piercing
ifte hinders it from being given alone5

& that it muft be mix’t.

with fome

Ali-

Aliment, as in broth, the yolk of an eg
a rolled apple, a little jelley, &c. fom
times with Medicines, and that innumer
blewayes, which partly depend from t
humour and difpofition of the, Patient, b
chiefly from the wit, knowledge, and d
cretion of the Phyfitian. For this S;,
calls for a Phyfitian, that hathfufficiej
ability to know and meafure its force a
a&iv.ty; that is intelligent and verfed
all Maladies, to be able beneficially to ei
ploy it in thofe that require it, thatkno'
to chufe a favorable time and occafio
and to mix it pertinently and to good pi!
pofe with fuch things, as may not chan'
its nature nor divert its operations nor fu
vert the indication, he fhalJ have tak<
So that ’tis neceffary,to be equally aflfu;
of the genuine and methodical preparati
of the Salt 5 of the knowledge of its qt
Ikies and vertues 5 of the nature of the*
ftemper , of the condition, temper , ai
flrengthof the Patient 5 of thefitnefs
its exhibition among aliments or appr
piiated medicaments, and of the occafic
and the time, in which it may be iufeful
employed. And when a due regard ha
been had to all thefe circumftances,

4

C 211)

’ill not fail to finde very';good effe&s of it4
ut that thofe, who are nor accuftom’d i
) make ufe of it, may not unawares finde
!i it eflfe&s contrary to the nature of this
;alt, we have thought ourfelves obliged

> advertife them, that they muft above
1 things avoid mixing them among Acids ^
idefpecially among Spirit of Salt, Vitri-
,, Brimftone, and the like, which would
x it and deftroy its operation. To find
aerefore facility in its exhibition, it may
: taken indiftilled waters, orptifane, or
:ch deceptions as are appropriated to the
feafe5 as alTo in Juleps, Emulfions, or
otions diverfly compofed. Itmayalfo
: mix’t in Conferves, Extracts, ConhPti-

' is, and the like 5 as alfo in Lozenges and
pints, diverfly made according to the
iture of the diftemper, and the intenth
lof the Phyfitian 5 It is alfo mingled
ith Purgatives, Sudorifiques , Aperi-
yes and Diuretiques 5 and no lefs, with
s own fix’t Salt, and fuch other Salts, as
e not contrary to it. It is alfo given in
7ine, and among certain Mineral waters.

. may be adminiftred to both fexes, and

> all ages , at all times and hours , be-
veen meals according to the nature of

P % the

( 212 )

the difeafe, and the intention of the D
dor. It may be taken, if one w ill, fe\
ral times in a day, and even at night $ a
theufe of it may be continued for a go
while.

As to its dofe, that is different, aca
ding to the occalion, age, temper and 1
mour of the Patient , and the nature
the diftemper, and the reiteration made
it: For , the dofe is to be much lefs j
tiiofe, who take it often in one day, a
continue the ufeofit, than forthofe, tl
take it but once in a cafe of need. Son
times cis efteemed fufficient to give 6.
10. or 12. grains of its but on cert;
occafions we may give 20. or 2 5. graii
and fome-times, halfadrachme, andev
a whole drachme. But difcretion and si
is to be ufed 5 without which, this Salt'
excellent as ’tis, may produce effeds qu
contrary to what the Phyfitian and the I
dent might exped from it.

CHAP.

CHAPT. X,

Divers Remedies or Comf ofi -
tions, of which the Vola -
til Salt of Vipers is the Rafe
or Ground,

WE had not undertaken to defcribe
the vertues, nor the Ufes of the
rolatil Salt of Vipers, no more than of
ae Fix’t Salt, andoftheOyle thatnfeth
y Diftillation, if this our Book were only
Titten for the skiltul Phyfidan, who per-
tly knows all, and efpecially the parts
lat may be drawn from the Viper. But
icing defirous to do a good office to fuch
erfons, as have no knowledg thereof, or
iat knowing it in part, have need to be
ireded , efpecially in the exhibition of
his Volatil Salt*, we thought* good to
include this Book with the Receipts of
P 3 the

(*i4)

the chief Compofitions of which this Vo-
latil Salt may be the Ground, which art.
not found in Books, and may produce Ef-j
feds worthy of this Salt.

And knowing, that there are many cu-j
rious perfons, who having a grfcat efteerr;
for the Viper and its ufes, make prepara-!
tions thereof in private, following the Re-
(apts they find in Books, which fome-
times are well, fome-times ill prefcribed
or ill executed • We (1 all impart to then
an Elixir of Vipers , that (hall be of greai
vertue, pleafant to the tafte, ofeafy prc
paration, and of long duration.

Take four douzen of Hearts and a:’,
many Livers of Vipers, dry’d in the fhade
and reduced to powder*, twodrachmeso
good Cinnamon, half a drachme of Cloves
grofly beaten: put them into a ft ron <
glafs-bottle , holding about two pintSj
Povvr on it a pound of the Queen of Uun\
gary's Water, a pound of Melifle- water
half a pound of Orange* flower- water, am
half a pound of Rofe-water. Clofe thr
bottle exactly , and expofe it to the Sui
for fourty dayes $ after which diflolvt
in the liquor a pound of fine Sugar, anc1
pafs all through a dean bagg, Put up

(215)

$ Elixir in a Bottle, and add to it half
ounce of the Volatil Salt of Vipers,
dl re&ified, twelve grains of Levant-
nsk, and as much of Amber-gris. Clofe
e bottle exactly, and you may keep this
■ixir, to ute it in time of need, from half
fpoonfull to a whole. You may take
it in the morning upon an empty Sto-
ack, and at all hours, according as ne-
flity fhall require. T his medicin is very
jod and very convenient : It is not onely
oper againft all Poyfons, againft the
ague, and all Contagious and Epidemi-
ildifeafes, but it alfo fortifieth all the
)ble parts , preferves the Natural heat
good condixion, and by this means the
e of it conduces much to preferve
ealth, and to prolong Life.

The Elixir following deferveth alfo to
communicated to the Public, as ante-
icine that is not common, and is very a-
ailable, not onely for the Sickneffes of
ien, as well in the Brain, as the ftoraack,
id all the noble parts 5 but alfo very par-
icularly, formoft of the difeafesot Wo-
Men. I fhall give you here the Defcripti-
n of it. Take an ounce of good Saffr on,
s much of fair Myrrhe , as much of A-
P 4 lots

(216)

logs Smtrin* , and the fame quantity i
White Amber $ a drachm of the Extras
of opium, and as much of the Extrad c|
Ca(tor. Mingle your Extra&s in a litt
Spirit of Wine-, pulverize all the_ refl
and put altogether in aGlafs-Body : pov;
upon it three pounds ol Spirit of wine ta
tarized > place the Body in a Bath of P\
flies > fit an Head to it, with its Recipieni
well lured together : Give it a moderait
fire, and draw from it about the moiety c
the Spirit of Wine-, then unlute your ve
fels, decant the tin&ute, that will fwii
above your powdeis, which will be fonr|
very much imbued with all their qualitie
and keep it by itfelf in a bottle well-clofe
Powre the spirit of Wine, which yc
have drawn off, upon the remainder in th
Body 5 Fit again to it the Head and tf
Recipient , and draw again from it t!
half of the Spirit of Wine. Decant ;
gain the tindure fwimmingatop, ming
it with the fir ft, and keep it likewife. Cc
hobate for the third time the Spirit (
wine, drawn off, upon the remainder i
the Body 5 proceed as before, and powi
off the tindure fwimming a ton, and mir
gle it with the former : then filter all thre

(217;

agether, and powre all into a (tong Viall,
dding to the whole an ounce of theVolatil
‘alt of Vipers, which will eafily diflblve in
1 $ keep the whole thus mix’t and well
lofed. The do[e may be from ten to fix-
een drops.

We fliall yet adde to this an ofhte of
*reat efficacy for moft diftempers of the
3rain5 and tis this. Take half an ounce
)f the Extra# of the root and feed of the
inale-Preony ; and of the true Mifleltoe
of the Oakland of that of Betony- flowers,
and of that of Clove- gilly-flowers , the
fame quantity of each of them ; three
drachms of the Confeftion of Alkermes of
Mefae , three drachms of the Volatil Sale
of Vipers , one drachme of the Volatil
Salt of Succinum, two drachms and an
half of prepared Pearl, and as much of
Crabs-eyes prepar’d 5 three drops of Cina-
mon-oyle, and as much of the oyle of
Mace: Mingle all according to Art, and
make an Opiate of it, and keep it in a pot
of Fayence ( a fort of fine white Earthen
: pots) well dofed. The dofeof it may be
fromafcrupleto a drachme.

Youmay alfo make, in the following
' manner, an opening and laxative Opiate,
h / • that

(218)

that (hall conduce^© the cure of fundryi
long and Rubborn difeafes, efpecially of
thofe that are caofed by feveral obftru#i-
onsof th® parts Take of the Confervej
of Tamarisk- flowers, of the Cqnferve of
the Flowers of Genifta or Spanifh-Broom,
of that of Mary-gold, and of that of the
Male-peach flowers, of each fix drachms 5
half an ounce of the Volatil Salt of Vipers,
as much of the Extract of the ordinary lrU\
root, and as much of the Extra# ofRu-
barb ; two drachms of the fix’t Salt of Vi-
pers, as much of the Mineral Bezoar, and
as much of the Salt of Worm-wood; a
drachma and an half ofRofin ofScammo-
ny, and as much of the Extra# of Colo-
quintida ; and a drachme of the powder of j
Cinnamon. Mix all thefe things toge-!
ther, and adding to it, as much as needs,
of the Syrup of Succory, compounded
with Rubarb, you (hall make an Opiate of
it, the Dofe of which may be from one
drachme to Two, and even to three fori
flronger Bodies.

There may alfo be made Pills, that fhall
have a vertuenear the former in efficacy,
to be taken in a lefs quantity. Take of
the Extra# of Aloes, made with the juyce

of !

;

(219)

if the cleanfedfflowers of Violets, of the
ixtra&of Rubarb, and of that of the Le-
ant-Sena, of each two drachms 5 as much
>f the Volatil Salt of Vipers, as much of
he Rofinof Scammony, and as much of
he Gum’m Ammoniac in drops 5 one
irachme of Mineral Bezoar, and the like
quantity of the Fixt Salt ofVipers. Re-
iuce all into a mafs of Pills, of w hich the
iofe (hall be from half a fcruple to two
fcruples.

Thofe, whofe ftomach lhallbe troubled
with tenacious humo s, fuch as could not
be carryed away by Purges, or other re-
medies 5 thofe, that have a naufeoufnefs,

1 and are fubject to troublefome refentments
from the Stomach , may to good put-
pofe ufe the following powder.

Take of Coriander- feed (that is not
prepared with Vinegar, according to the
ill way of the Antients, but fuch as is fold
in good (hops,) of Anis-feed , of fweet
Fennel-feed, of the root of Lickorilh well
fcraped and dryed, of each half an ounce 5
three drachms of the Volatil Salt of Vipers,
and as much of Crabs-eyes prepared ; two
drachms of the Fixt Salt of Vipers, and as
, muchofwell-chofenCinarnon. Bring all

to

fe

f 220 )

co a fine powder, and aide to it its weight
or if you will, double its weight of finetj
powder’d fugar. Clofe this mixture ic
a Glafs-veflel, or in one of the fine white
Earthenpots, and clofe it carefully You
may take of it, at a time, from half a fyoon-
full to a whole, according as you have put
more or lefs Sugar to it. YOu may alfo
adde to the powder fome drops of the Qyl
of Anis, and of the Oyl of Cinnamon, and
even of Musk and Ambre-gris.

This Volatil Sale is to very good pur-
pofe mix’c among the Sneezing powders >
forbefides that ic penetrates exceedingly
by its activenef* , it alfo difeharges the
Brain powerfully, and withall fortifieth it.
It may be mixed with the powders of Be-
tony, Marjoram, Rofemary, Arabic, Sta?-i
chas,Sage, and the like, not putting but a
fixth part of our Volatil Salt among thefe
powders.

Thofe that would have an Opiate, pro-
per not onely to fortify the Heart, the Sto-
mach, and allthe noble parts, but alfo to
expel! all kind of Venom, and all the im-
purities of the mafs of Bloud, and of the
(olid parts, and to make them ifltie out at
the pores of the skin, or at the other emun-

ctories,

(221')

Tories, may prepare very beneficially the
following Opiate,

Take two ounces of the Conferve of
Gilly- flowers, one ounce of the Confecti-
on of Alkermes, ambred andmusked, fix
drachms of the Volatile Salt of Vipers
well rectified, half an ounce of the Con-
fection of Hyacinth, as much of the Ele-
ctuary of Diafeordinm, three drachmes of
the Mineral Bezoar$ and of Pearl prepar’d,
of Crabs-eyes prepared, of the Extract of
Angelica, ana of that of Carlina, of each
of thefe the fame quantity 5 two drachms
of the Salt of Carduus Benedictus. Mix
all together, and reduce it to an Opiate,
by adding to it fome Syrup of kermes, or
the Clove-G illy- flowers, as much as needs
to give a good confifteuce to the Compo-
fition: Which you are to keep clofe for
your occafions. You may take of it, for
a preservative, half a drachm', at a time, in
Wine, or broth * but in urging ficknefles,

1 you may take of it a whole drachme, and
15 even two drachms.

n” Thofe that will ufe the Oyl which hath
; been drawn by Diftillation,may either em-
ploy it all alone, or mingle it with an equal
quantity of Ungutntum Marti At am ^ and

even

;

. 1 . ■

(222)

even adde to it Oyles diftilled of Rofe
mary, Sage, Lavender and the like.

Thofe,that (hall wellconfiderthefe Re
ceipts, will finde therein not onely a fi
proportion in the dofe of a‘l the particu
lars, butalfo great cautioufnefs in mixin<
nothing with them, that maydeftroyo
change the natnre of our Volatil Salt
which is the thing, moft to be avoided ii i
the exhibition.

We might here adde many other Com'
pofitions, of which the Volatil Salt of Vi-
pers may be the Ground ; but we have
contented ourfelves to deliver thefe for ex-
amples, knowing, that there may be founc
divers others, good enough , in Books j
and efteeming, that ’tis better to prepare
them upon occafion according to exigen-
cy, and following the Receipts, which able
Phyfitians may preferibe thereof.

We have alfo explain’d ourfelves fuffici-
endy in all particulars. We would have
been more large, if we had not apprehend-
ed we might exceed our bounds, and under- j
take things, which might be thought to be
beyond our reach, and to belong onely to
knowing Phyfttians.

Thofe that know well to prepare this

Vo-

(“3 )

/olatil Salt of Vipers, and to unite it well
vith the Volatil parts of Plants, and with
he Sulphureous parts of certain Minerals,
hat are friendly to our nature, may fay,thac
hey have made fome progrefs in their Pro-
)eflion. We labour daily, and wifii our
elves able in time to impart fomething to
he publick5thac may be more accomplice?

FINIS.

E T*T E R

RANCESCO REDI

Concerning

Obje&ions made upon his

OBSERVATIONS

About

fIPE

Written to

ifieur BCTURDELOr Abbot >

and Lord of Cottde and St- Lever.

And

ifieur ALEXANDER A/OR VS.
Primed in Italian Florence, 1670.

Bom mane Cngiift.

Together with

SEQUEL of NEW EXPED-
IENTS upon VIPERS, and a Dif-
rtation upon their Poyfon : Serving for
Reply to a Letter written by Signor
rancefco Redi to M. Bourdelot,it\& M. Morns „

Written in French by Moyfe Charas.
jjSatolt&ettufc CngUthc®.

LONDON,

ted by 7. R, for John Martyn Printer to the Royal
Witty , at the Bell in S. Fanis Churchyard, 167 i-

1

w

A LETTER OF

IRANCESCO REDE

frncerning fbme Objections made

upon his Obfervat ions about Vipers.

I Written to

Monfieur BOllRDELOT \
AND

vlonfieur ALEXANDER MORUS.

SIRS,

ROM your liberality I have
received the Book entituled
NE W EXPER l ME NTS
upon VIPERS , learnedly
lpofed by thofe noble Virtucji , who du-
yfome months had met in the Hotife of
Chciros for that purpofe. I have read
ver more then once with great com-
ment, plainly -finding that thofe Wor-
perfons have not fcrup'edby their e-
ent labours to confirm the Truth of
fe Obfervations, which I alfo had made
thing VIPER S’, until the year 1664.

A 2 And

( 4 )

And indeed I think my felf much oblij
to their ingenuity, and do frankly acknc
ledge, that whatever worth that rude ;
plain piece of mine may have , it hath
ceived it from the honourable teftimon
given to it in France , where all theex<
lent Sciences and Arts do highly florifh
the admiration of thofethat profefs tl
in the other parts of Furcpe.

I intreat you, Sirs, that you would
me the favour to reprefent upon occai
thefe my candid and cordial fentimei
and withall to declare the high efleei
have for that Book ; the authority ofwhj
is fo venerable with me, that, having foi
therein feme few things dire&ly contr|
to my own Experiments , I have oi
doubted of my felf, and been almoft ret
to believe, that I dream’d when I mtj
and when I wrote them. But fome of
Learned Friends , that were frequei
prefent at thofe my Operations, have lai
ed at me for that pronenefs of my be!
and between jeft and earnefl: allur’d
that thofe Experiments had by no me
fo fucceeded with me in a dream. F
withftanding which, without any regarc
their alTeverations, I refolved to ite

[ reiterate them, and that with To great
careful diligence, that I fhould greatly
are my felf and Truth, if I fhould not
dy and candidly tell you, that all thofe
r or five ’Experiments, which to thofe
ltlemen in France have not fucceeded,
Tucceed with me in Italy without fail,
hey were formerly recorded by me ; on
contrary, thofe will not fucceed with
that have been made in France and are
scitrary to mine.

And fince you may perhaps have the cu-
ifityas to defire to know of what kind
y are, I fhall here give you a brief ac-
int of them ; affuring my felf, that it
.1 be acceptable to all the Lovers of
ath, but efpeciallyto the Authors of
Book of the New Experiments, who
re been induced to write by no other
tive then the foie defire either to con-
n or to find the Truth of a matter fo cu-
us, of which fo many underloading men
be written.

In my Letter then of. the Obfervations.
\ut Vipers, addreffed to the Illuffcrious
\renz& EMagalotti, fpeakingof the Poi-
|i of thofe creatures, both what it is, and
I what part of the Body it refiderh, I af-
A 3 firm’d

C 6 )

firm’d (as I affirm ftill ) that the Poil
of a V iper is nothing elfe then a certain y
lowilh liquor, which lodgeth in the vefic
that cover the greateft teeth oftheVipe
and that that Juice is not only poifonoi
when it is eje&edby the live Viper wl
fhe biteth, but alfo when ’tis colled!
from a dead Viper, and even fuch and
that hath been dead many days, provicj
it be made to pafs into a wound , and 1
main there. Moreover, I added, that til
fame liquor, when taken down into tl
ftomach, is not deadly, no not fo much I
noxious. And this was my opinion,whi !
hath been confirm’d to me by innumerall
Experiments, made with the greateft exa
nefs I couldemploy.

But the Authors of the Book of the N
"Experiments do refolutely write , Tl!
that above mention’d Liquor is not poifcl
ous, but a meer and a moft innocent Sahl
or Spitle. Thence they go on to affirm I
an undoubted and experimented Trutil,
that the Viper hath no part of her boc
neither limb nor humor, able to poifo
and that all herpoifon confifts in theft
imagination of the Viper, irritated ai
made angrr by the idea of vengeance, whi

1C 7 i

hath conceived in her head ; by the
ms whereof the fpirits being put into a
lent motion,- are darted through the
'ves, and at times through the Fibres of
cavities Of the Teeth, by which cavities
fe fpirits are carried to infeft the blood
he animal, by the opening made with
$ biting teeth. Infhort, they conclude,
ft if a Viper be not angry, and have not
;r.:iit vindicative imagination , her bitings
at*, never poifon , but are very innocent,
to ;.ifmg nomifehief at all to him, in whom
ucirsy are made. For thefe are their words ;

Pag- 36. in the Englifh Veriion , "Thefe
a ijiderations , fupported by many Experi-
>nts made by Us , and to be related hereaf-
>■ , have induced me to call thefe Glands
liva \,and to aferibe to them the very fource
that yellow liquor, which hath been fo much
\ cried , and withal fo little known ; and is
thing elfe, but a pure and a very innocent
title. 1 hope that thofe who /lull take the
'■ins of examining after me , thefe Glands,
id this Juyce of the Gums, will not flick to
ve me their fuff ages.

! Item p. 105. 106. But not to flay upon
'inciples fo fightly eflablijhed , and ill main-
tin d , forafmuch as we have on our fide a

A 4 great

( 8 )

great number of Experiments, upon wh
we are grounded : We fay, that this Juki
nothing hut a pure and plain Saliva, of wh
we have already obferved the ufe ; and t,
this Juice contributes nothing to the venom
nefs of the Biting, fince being tafled and fa
lowed ( as we have often experimented )
doth no hurt to man or beafi ; and jince a
being put upon open wounds , and upon inciji
made in the flefh , the fame being rub' d the
with , and mingled with the blood , it ann
nothing at all ; notwith (landing thejudgnu
of a Berfon very intelligent, and particula
in this fubject of Vipers , who abjures to ha
made a great number of Experiments, wh
being contrary to curs, the great opinion
have of the abilities and the jincenty of ti
famous man, hath obliged us to employ the mi
care and exaclnefs, and to confirm our feh
bg a very great number of Experiments, whi
have alwayes been found alike in the truth
here ajfert, and of which we fhallmake ei
dent and irrefragable proof.

Item p.cog.Ue conclude therefore, that 1 1
imagination of the Viper , irritated by the id
of revenge , which jhe had framed to her fet
gives a certain motion to the fpivits, whi
cannot be expreffed,and pufhes them violent i

throng

( 9 )

k ugh the Nerves and their Fibres, to the
\ty of the teeth as into a funnel, And that
vt thence they are conveyed into the blood
lie animal by the opening , vohich they have
'e , there 'to produce all thofe effects, of
itch we endeavour to give a reafen.
item pag. in. However this be, we mufl
’in agree , that this irritation in the fanjie
1 1 the fpirits of the Viper , is the main caufe
be activity and pier cingnef of its venom ,
that without it the biting would not pro-
' fuch [urprifing effects, as thofe are , of
ch we have related fo many examples.
tern pag. 138. Ehefe Experiments wit
ye on the one hand, that the yellow liquor
ributes nothing to the poyfon ; and on the
; r, that theje incenfed fpirits , a ffified by
: openings , which the great teeth had
' le for them, are the foie and true caufe
k reef

it Thefe fentiments they confirm by fome
c periments, all which confifi: in this, that
y haddrop’t a quantity of that yellow
1 Jor into the wounds of a Pigeon, a Dog,
cl fome Pullets, which yet dyed not of
ft and that having caufed a Pigeon to be
k ten by a Viper not enraged, the animal
ceived thence no hurt at all. For they
| . fay.

( 10 )

fay pag. 1 1 5. We alfo made a trial up i
Pigeon, which we wounded under the w
and in the Leg in the fame moment of th
And we let into each wound fame of this yeti
liquor , which juft afore we had drawn f
the gums of two enraged Vipers ; then we
joyned the skin well , to enclofe the faid liq
and we bound both wounds over with a ba
that nothing might run out. We can afj:
that the Pigeon felt not any inconvenu
from it , and that we even found upon
wound , made in the Leg , a coagulated droj
the juice , round , and of the fame colour as
had put it there, and the blood of the wo.
dryed , and that , foon after , both wounds »
dried up, and healed of themfelves.

Pag. ii 6. We alfo made the like Exp .
ment upon a Cat , which we purpofely woun
in the Leg , but he received no harm at ah
it: We have alfo often experimented it on ii
lets , and other Pigeons , but alwayes with
like fuccefs , and without any offence to
Animals.

Ibid. The fame Trial hath been th
made at three fever al times, and even tn
in one day upon a Dog , whom we had woun.
on purpofe towards the bottom of the JBj
where he could not lick his wound and
mifchief at PI followed upon it. Ifct

C II )

> [bid. We cannot but add here an Experi-
4tt of the mortal ejfeff of the Enraged Spi -
( jr without any intervention of the yellow
t!or. We made a Viper Jeveral times to bite
n a fice of bread , by preffmg every time
■jaws againjl the bread ; and rve did this fo
,7 i, that not only that juice was altogether
kiaufed, but the blood began to come out of
VeJJtcles. Jt the fame time we vexed
Viper, and made her bite a Pigeon in the
■Ji flejhy part and we obfervd that indeed
effects of the venom of the biting were
fo quick , the Pigeon not dying but an hour
l an half after it had been bitten ; but then
found alfo, that the teeth of the Viper were
a manner covered with the crums of the
’ad, from the force of her having bitten at
and that that had hindred them fro?n ma -
ig a deep entrance ; and that having half
ft up the pores of the teeth , a good part of
? angred Spirits could not come forth ; fo
it the death of the Pigeon could not follow
faf, though yet it hapned without any mix-
re of the juice, which had been altogether
tptied.

Pag. 138. T he wound made by a Viper
t vexed , whofe Jaws were held in, and
bofe teeth were at the fame time thrufk into

the

C 12 )

the body of tPigeonyvhich alfo w/ts accompan 4
with fore of the yellow juice, and yet not
tended with any ill accident.

To thefe Experiments I have noth!
elfetooppofe, but t ho fe very many oi ;
that were made by me in the year 1 664. :
recited in the above-mentioned Obfervd
ons of mine about Vipers , and thofe alfot
I fhall recite hereafter , made likewife
my felf,not with a defire to confirm the fi
but indeed to difcover the Truth. A
that I may not be put often to repeat fc
things, I fhall premife fame General Obf
vations,made by me at the time when I de
in Vipers.

1. A viper more eafily kills a Pigeon1
Pullet, aTurky-cock, a Squirrel, a D I
moufe, and generally all fmall Birds a
Animals, than agre^it Animal, asaShei
a Deer, aHorfe, a Bull ; yea thefe great
ones and thofe that are ofan hard skin,v(
often a Viper kills not at all.

2. According to the bignefs of the A

malbitten,and according to the place wb<
the Viper biteth, death follows fooner
later; efpecially according as the pla|
wounded is a clear texture , or thick 1
with veins and arteries ; or thofe veins a:l
arteries are very fmall or big. 3.

V

C 13 )

). If from the wound of a Viper much
odiffueth, it fometimes happens, that
: Animal not only dyeth not, but does
: fo much as feel any great inconveni-
re.

4. Itdothalfonot feldom fall out, that
Animal bitten by a Viper buffers grie-
jis Symptoms from the poyfon , which
ing it near death, but yet kill it not;

: the creature without any helpofPhy-
k and by the foie work of nature reco~

T.

5. Thofe Animals that are bitten of a
per dye a little fooner, than thofe, into
? wounds of which hath been on purpofe
nveyed that yellow liquor, which by
: hath been fetch’t out of the baggs of the
tth of that Viper.

6 . ’Tis neceffary, that great dexterity
; tiled in making the faid liquor to
metrate into the wound ; becaufe, if the
oundbe narrow, it pierces difficultly;
large, it cannot be otherwifebut it will

deed, and with that blood the faid liquor
ill turn back, and fo the poifon come out
*ain.

I had then provided a good number of
ipers which I caufed to be brought me cut

C H )

of the Kingdome of Naples ; and having
thisraoneth of oJlTay, 1670 wounded
Pigeons of the bigger fort in the thighs
put into them foiue of the yellow liqi
frefhly taken out of the mouth of the 1
Vipers ; and all thefe PigeonS, fome wit!
the fpace of one hour, fome in half an ho
and fome in two hours, died. This Ex
riment I repeated upon ten Chickens, lij
wife wounded in their thighs, with the fa
event that had befallen the Pigeons.

Then I cut off the heads of twelf Vipe
and all the heads being cut ofF, and the >
pers quite dead, I thence extracted the pc
fon , and caufed them to be put into
wounds of eight Turtle-doves, all which
ed in the fpace of half an hour.

In the month of June , having killedm
ny otherV i pers, and gather’d out of the ba
of their teeth and their gums all the yello
and vifeous Juice that was there, I anoint<
therewith fome beefom-rods* fharpn’d li
arrowes , and immediately I pricked wiij
them ten young Pigeons in the more fleft
part of their cheft, leaving them fixed in tl
wound ;and the Pigeons furvived not abo^
two or three hours. But left itfhouldt
doubted ; whether thefe Pigeons died nc

( *5 )

le wound it felf, enraged by the pun-
es of thofe rods, I made a trial upon
-other Pigeons with rods not infected
h that poyfonous liquor ; but none of
n dyed, though the wounds became pu-
i ;nt.

alfo took eight heads of Vipers, cut off
hours before, and, the Vipers being quite
d, I caufed eight Turtlg-doves to be
:en by them in the thigh, and not one of
n efcaped.

vforeover I made the heads of fifteen
)ers to be cut off: and put them into a
ik-veffel well cover’d, having laid them
>n ©ne another, that fo they might remain
;l ift.Four dayes after, I ftruck with thofe
ds five young Cocks , and five great Pi-
rns in the thigh, and they all after a little
; ile died* The like fell out with other
)er-heads, which having been killed fix
fes before, had in all likely hood loft all
1 >ller and thoughts of revenge. And to
• :vent all Objeffions that might be railed
thisoccafion, Ilhall not omit to relate
you, that about the beginning of jiuguft
entwo of my Vipers, that alone were
t me in a box, died of thetnfel ves of fick-
s,I caufed two Turtle-doves to be ftruck

by

( *6 )

by them, which alfo, like the former, d1
in lefs than an hours time.

But I may go further. I had collet
inaglafs all the poifonous liquor of I
headsoftwo hundred and fifty Vipers,
make various Experiments therewith it|
occafion. But being by much bufmefs 1
dred, I delayed to accomplifh my deE
Whence that Jiquor turn’t firft into a gl<
colour’d like amber; then in 30 daye
became altogether dry and friable , fo r
it could eafiiy be reduced to powder
ing pulveri fed, I had a mind to try, w
therthat powder, let into a wound, <
keep the force of poyfoning ; and I foi
that really it did fo, all thofe Pullets, Pi
ons, and Turtle-doves, into the wound:
which I had put Tome thereof, dying of i
a little while.

Having made this Experiment, I be,
to doubt, whether that poyfon of the1
rowes of the King of (zlMacafiar in the Ifl<
of Celebes , which commonly are called
arrowes of Bantam in Java Major, were i
the poyfon excra&ed out of the moutl
fome Viper, or of fome other Viper-1
ferpent, and perhaps ofa more maligne
ture becauie of the diverfity of theCIimt

I

C 17)

not much averfe from believing this to
b ; and it may be confirmed by what I
read in Fliny, viz,. That the Scythians
infed their Arrows with a Vipenn poi-
[ His words are. Scythe Jagittas tmgunt
'ini Janie & humano Jangnine : ir remedy
! id Jcehu mortem illico levi tactic ajjert.

| this was perhaps extraded by Pliny
of Arifictler who in h s Book , inti turd
v; v/uaQiay ctMvQfiaiwv, loon after defcri-
1 the procefs of preparing it,whichl dare
iffirm to be the true one, or to requi e
? iany circumftances and cautions* Ar.d
knows, whether the Arrows of Hercules ,

• /hich the Fables alledge that they were
pi ued with the blood of an Hydra , were
infeded with this poifon of Vipers ? So
, believed by Diodorus Siculus , when he
], Thj dxjS'3- mvlttrUi ixHvnc l°v

{ . Ovid gives the name of Viper to the
■t ra , when in his ninth Book of oJMsta-
'rh. he faith ;

irs quota Derma Jerpens er-it UntisJLchidna,

l afterwards ;

— Cap it injeius keros ,

duiturqtie burner is Lernece virus Tchidna.
which may be added, that Philo Ft etes ,
Heir of the Bow and Arro ws of Hercules ,
ng yon ia the Grecian Navy to- the Trojan
B War,

(i3)

War, and having unawares wounded hii
(as Servius Grammaticus relates,/. 3. 1FE1
with one of his Arrows in the foot \ was
among the Grecians in the Kb of Stalin
by reafon of the violence of the pain,
the intolerable ftench of the wound. Wh
Sophocles , alluding, it feems, to the kin
poifon, in a Poetical way and phrafe 1
teth, that FhiloBetes was left in that Ifle
caufe he had been bitten by a Viper,
words are ;

Si tikvov, % <ncu mlfyi A yltXivf

"O P' t yn tyu <rot ev KKiiji

'Zcuv ngt&Aetv cvtu PtQm T«r oifrav,
cO n rioici*]®- arcu( ; ov ot

&tejoi rf«7wW %4 yii^etrKnyeiv atia.%
Bpp/gzv cop' dyeltf.

No£$> i(/la,<p5ivov']et, 7nf P' a.v&£9<p 3of«
TlinyivT e%iPyns dyeiy : That

O Son <?/ Achilles, l am he , whom thou n.
f ive heard to be the pojfefior of the Hercu
drrovos , the Son of IVean Philodetes : w
rhe two t Armies and the King of the IJle of
phalene jhame fully left lying hei e, pining a
by a cruel difeafe, f ruck by the fierce bite 1
murthering Viper.

And Cicero himfelfin his fecond Book
the Tfufculan ffluejlions, and in his Book
Fato, and many other Writers do follow 1
opinion, viz. That Fhiloftetes was bitten

O?)

jper; And pdflibly all of them fad an
' not only to this place of Sophocles , but
to what Homer faid before, in his fix-
<ith Book of Hinds.

\nd though againft this conje&ure it may
faid, hat the poifon of Vipers is incon-
rable in refped of what Poets do write
he Arrows of Hercules, which by them
aid not only to have the force of killing
tout fail, whether the wound befmallor
rit, as happen’d to the Centaure Chiron
B to Nefiut ; but alfo that the blood of
it wounds was become fo pefliferousas to
id any live body whatfoever , touched
'eby, and that with fuch violence, as to
:e the flefli fall off from the bones : which,
add, was experimented by Hercules to
*reat mifchief, when his Shirt was tinged
h the blood of JSfeJfus ; whence Ovid

ricta malis poftquam ejl patient ia, reppulit
arris

mplevitque fuis nemoro [am vocihus Oeten $
Vec morajetiferam conatnr [cinder e vejlemy
Qua t ahitur , trahit ills cutim ( fctdimqne
relatn )

Aut haret membris, frujlra tent at a revelli ,
Aut laceros art us & grandia detegit ofja :

;is is a Poetical Fable; whence, I am apt
B 2 to

( 20 )

to believe, is raifed that relation concei
ing the Arrows of Macajfar , of which i
faid, that they kill one in that very mom
he feceiveththeilighteft wound thereby, ;'|
thatalfo in the lpaceof half an hour the fi
of the killed perfon becomes fo putrif
that it tails olf from the bonesin many pie<)
whence do exhale fuch virulent fleams, tl!
if they light upon any ordinary and not er s
nomed wound, they mortally infeftir, ;
without fail kill the Patient.

I do here affirm, that I have made ro1
tryalls withthofe Arrow's of the Indians, i
have not found them in Tufcany of fo fie
and malignant a nature, as hath been relat1'
The Dogs I wounded with them, dyed f<
of them in fix, others in feven , othen
twelve, others in twenty four hours, i
their flefh wras not putrified, nor fallen
pieces,nor did their blood or exhaled fie;
at all kill other wounded Animals. Eu
have often obferved, that, if one intend:
ki 1 with thefe Arrows, it is not enough
make a fimple incifion of the flefih, but
muft by art make them flick a while in
wound ( which is like to what happens
punting into wounds the powder of the d.
ed yellow liquor of Vipers : ) Whence i
that thole Savages make of Wood the fha

ei

r

( 21 )

I.s of thofe Arrows, imbue them with poi-
, and then joyne them to the Arrow (tick
uch a manner, that thofe ends ever remain
he wound, whether the Arrow do break
be drawn. out;as came to pafs in the Siege
Jerufalem to thofe Heroes o IFlandres,Go-
' ed 2j\dRebert,of whom that great Floren-
Poet thusfingeth :

1 o fringe v a il montm , yuan do e perco (fo
ril Sig. de Fiarninghi il Uto mxnco ,

Stche travia / allenta, i vuolpoi trxrne
Lo fir ale , e refix ilferro entro lx came :

That is,

T be Engine difehargedyhe left fide of the
wdrian Princes was fo fir nek , that they were
nfl out of their way, and when they would
iw out the Jr row , the Iron finch within
’ir flefo.

It is therefore neceffary, that the Arrows
: flick for fome time in the wound, if they
ill kill : Whence I underftand not, how
i vulgar comes to fanfy, that the Blades of
/ords may be envenomed. I do well re-
anber, that with the yellow liquor of Vi-
ms, and with other things efteemed veno-
)uq I have fometimes flightly tinged Han-
ts for letting of blood, and wkh them have
it the vein of fome Animal or other, but
rath hath not followed upon it. Let fufpe-
B 3 ding-

( 22 )

&ing men rather beware of the Tents
Chirurgions ; for ’tis too hard to cd
death b/ poi Ton’d Lancets or other fuch I \
infrruments. Hence it Teems t,o me to fa'|
of the fab!e ( though the cafe be differei
that j Parifatis the old Queen of the Perfit!
did poifon her Daughter-in-law by the ha:
of her Carver, poifoningthe one fide of
Knife, and therewith cutting afundei
Fowl, of which he gave to the young Qu
to cat that part , which the poifoned fid«
the Knife had envenomed, eating the ot.j
part himfelf.

I could never fee the truth of what is 1
lated ofpoifbns killing by a meer and r
mentaneous contad , or by vicinity aloi
as that Stirrups , Sadies , and Benches h;
been poifoned, and thereby proved mor
Let him believe it that wik; I cannot. P
what a certain modern Writer relateth fo
great .truth, concerning a prodigious ac
dent hapnedbya kind of Serpents bred
the Indies, I mu ft leave to hinafelfrwho fai
Jfter ] have Jfoken of the fe Serpents , Iprefu
it will not he unacceptable to give an account
the range effect they produce. If perchanci
happen , that they pa (l over a death or (hirt d
ed in the Sun , there is wont to he bred in
■Kidneys of thofe that ufe this c loath y a certi

C 23 )

! of Serpents, which little by little growing
eucompaf the whole body , and when their
reaches their head , to conjoyn the circle ,
i* nnevitable : Wherefore , io avoyd
mifchief they kill them with Razors and
icets , to prevent their growth.
fou have found above mentioned three
Tons, wounded by the Arrows of Hercu -
namely Chiron, Neffm, and Rhilocletes.

1 two firft dyed fuddeniy the third, af-
a long ficknefs efcaped. If the caufes of
0 5 difference were to be given ( whether it
an Hiftory or a Fable ) I fhould fay, that
’(fus and Chiron dyed, becaufe they were
unded whilft Hercules was yet living, by
rows freilily envenomed ; befides that
effus was pierced through his heart, as O-
^hath it,

Jdmque tenens rip am miff os cim t oiler et ar-
tns,

Confugit agncvit vocem, JHeff oque par anti
Falter e depofttum ; quo te fiducia, clamat ,
Vana pedum violent e rap it ? Fibi, Neffe bi~
formis

Dicimus , exaudi, nec res inter cipe nojlras.
Si te nulla met reverentia movit ; at orbes
Concubitus vetitos pot er ant inhibere paterni.
Haud tamen effigies, quamvis ope fidis e~

B

Vulnere

foe probat, & mi ft a fugientia terga fagitt*

Vulnere , non pedibus, te confequar. Ulti
dt A

Trajicit ;extabat ferrum depeclore aduncu

Quod ftmul evulftnm eft, Janguis per utru
que foramen

( 24 )

JLmicuit, miftus herneei tabe veneni .

But Fhiloftetes was wounded long after 1
death of Hercules ; whence ’tis credible, tls
thofe Arrows hadioftmuch of their poifei
ous force, even as the powder of theyelld
liquor loofeth of its force?and the Arrows
Macafter by length of time grow languid
which though they poifon and kill if one «
woundedtherewith, yet do they no hurt
all, if their poifon be fwallow’dand takl
into the ftomach, Which Experiment I ha 1
tryed upon two Doggs, to whom I gave
fwallow two pieces of flefh covered wi
the powder of the ferapings of fuch Arrow i
as aifo upon feveral Chickens, to whom
gave the water to drink, wherein thofe IE
rings had been a long time infufed. 1
But, to return after this long digreflic
to the main thing.; you may by the above rj
iated and often repeated Experiments, fe
that the po'fon of the Italian "Viper confif
not in an imaginary idea of anger raifed t

( 25 3

!ich is voided out of the bags of the big-
teeth of Vipers ; which juyce if it chance
be fpilled in the mouth and upon the
'at of thofe animals is able to envenom
5 fpittle which moiftens their throat.
Ifliould think it very well worth while
i thofe learned Authors of the book of
■ New Experiments , that they would
ale to make their Experiments anew,
id if they fliall End them confonn to thofe
! y have already published, and really con-
ry to mine, then we may unanimoufly con-
de, that we have lighted upon a truth hi-
rto unknown ; which is, That the Poifon
the French Vipers ccnfifts in an imagina-
Idea of a revengeful anger ; but that of
Italian ones hath its feat in that yellow
;uor, fo often mentioned by me. Eut ifon
r other fide, the French Experiments
mid not hold, then it may be affirmed,
it the French as well as the Italian Vipers
; of one and the fame nature; and have
: fame kind of poifon.

Wherefore if in Italy the Viperin poifon
rtainly lodges in that yellow liquor, it
.11 be no untruth in me to affirm, that if by
ting}a Viper fhould have loft all that juyce
fiding in thofe bags, and that alfo which
iy be fumifiht by the neighbouring parts, it

will

( 26 )

will, I fay, be no untruth in me to affiri
that the fubfequent hitings will not be me!
tal : which is the thing I have thefe maij
years afferted, and do ftill affert, althou
the abovefaid Authors deny it„, giving o
that one only Viper, being vexed and fwel]
y/ith choller, is able to kill as many anim;
as she bites ; they trufting tooneExpe
ment, in which they fay there died five you;
Pidgeons by the biting of one only Viper. I
hope (fay they, p. 137.) that among the m&
Experiments thofe of the Jive Pidgeons, hit l
one after another , hy one and, the fame viper t
afperated every time , and of which the Ufl l
ten diedfirft of all , when the viper was w
vexed, and mojl exhaujled of its yellow \
quor, &c.

I am willing indeed to believe the fadt
be true ; but for the confirmation of it I w
they had caufed many more fuch Pidgeo
and many other animals, of different kir
and bignefies, to be bitten of the felf fame 1
per, which had killed thofe five ones, to
whether that angry and cholerick poifon \
an infinite power. For when I examin’d t
matter, I chofe about the beginning of iV
a Female Viper, one of the biggefband lu
efr, and vexed her to bite tenXHhickens <
after another, in the right thigh; of wh

( 27 )

}? firft:, fecond, and third died ahnoft in an
iant ; the fourth Teemed only to be fick ;
it the fifth and all the reft did not only not
e, but were not at all Tick and yet every
me the Viper did bite,I angred and maddccl
: exceedingly, In the moneth of June I
rpeated the experiment in five tame Ducks,

!tten by one and the fame Viper, which alfo
mediately after bit three young Turtle-
oves. The firft wounded Duck dyed three
hirs after ; the fecond, five hours after ; but
te reft; efcaped. ’Tis true, that the firft
funded of the Turtles dyed, but not the
'her two. Of twelve Ring-Doves at one
ine there dyed but four ; blit the next day
twelve others there dyed fix. Of five Rab-
ts there dyed three ; and of three Lambs the
jo laft lived, the firft of them dying two
airs after it had been bitten.

I fhould be too tedious, if I fhould relate
!i you all the other .experiments : Wherefore
fhallgoonto add, that having written in
y Observations, that that yellow liquor was
it conveyed to the bags of the teeth from the
ladder of gall, I did fuggeft, whether it
ight not be difgorged there by certain fe-
tral Dttttus s, that might be inferted at the
?adofthem: which did appear the more
robable, becaufe that in all Vipers at the

bottom

C 23 )

bottom of thofe veficles I bad always fou; 1
two glanduls, which had not, that I kne
been obferved or defcribcd by any bod
Whereupon the Authors of the New Expe:
merits do affirm, that they cou<ld never i
fnch Glanduls as I had named ; but that i
Read of them they had found two othei
which they call Saliva!, thus by themdefc
bed, p. 3 r, 32. I believed at firf7 follow'll
Signor Redi, that there might be Salivalvl
fels in Vipers , as there have been lately foundi
Man and divers other Nnimals ; fo that afi
many researches made with Sufficient attentl
and patience , in many Vipers heads ldifcover
at length fuck Glands , proper to forme ti.
juyce , and to convey it to the Bags ; and afte
was well perfwadedofit myfelf I /hewed the,
to divers of thofe knowing Fhyfitians , that h
met at my houfe the lajl year. Vhefe perfons h
a mind to fee them with their own eyes ; and a
ter 1 had well examined the parts which 1 /hex
ed them , they not only found them true , but th
alfo faw there a greater number of [mailer vt
fels then had appear d to me , of which fome th
are Arteries and Veins pafs above the Glam |
and others that are Lymph e duels run below ;
that they judged^ that 1 could confidently affe
and defer ibe thefe Glands which [call Salivl?
and which they had acknowledged together wi.

( 29 )

| ; though Signor Redi dtirfi not [peak poji~
t ely of them, becauje he had not discovered
im ; neither had they been defer ibed by any
Athor ef their knowledge , nor by any one of

we. 1

And pag. 35. As to the J, mall Glands , which
$;nor Redi hath obferved at the bottom ef the
Holes that contain thisjuyce , 1 can jay , that l
ve with great care and diligence fearched af-
• them, and that 5 tis true , l have there found
if appearances of Glands , but having opened,
’.m, l jaw nothing in them but jmall teeth that
•refajlned there , without finding any thing of
'jlaudular nature there , nor that did in the
fi approach to the jhape , fubfiance , or quail-
's of the Glands which l have been defer i-
% &c.

Ido not at all wonder that thofe Writers
ve not found thofe GlandUls I named, I fee-
g they went about to fearch them within
te Vefic'es of the teeth, and at the bottom of
jem : Whereas 1 never fa id that they were to
? found within them, 1 fajd they were to be
•und Sotto 7 fondo funder the bottom) of
jiofe bag?, and in good Tufcan language, tis
lother thing to fay nel fondo , (in or at the
attorn) another Sotto 7 fondo(uud^ the bot*
)m.) And c herefore w hen they fought them
'here they are to be met with, they eafily

found

( 3° )

found them, and they are the fame which tl /
defcribe, neither are there any other coi1
derableglartduls tobedifcovered inthehej
of Vipers. Nor could I at all write that tho
Glanduls lay in the bottom of the Veficles,

I was of opinion that the yellow liquor d
run into them after it had palled through t
Salival Conduits, which yet 1 imagined mil
have their origin from, or connexion w1
thole two Glanduls feen by me, and therefc
muft needs be in a fcituation a little difla1
from the Veficles, and not in the bottom
them. Now whether thefe Glanduls have tl!
office and this ufe,I intend not now to fpe
of, let it be what it will, ’tis too inconfidei
bleamatter tomake any more wordsofit.

1 confefs, that the dangerous experimei
which Vipers have, made them fo difplealr
tome, and even fo odious, that I refolv<
not at all to meddle any more with them; bi
that I w-as tempted thereto by a great defi
I had experimentally to learn, whether t
volatil Salt of Vipers, Chymically prepare
were endowed with that prefent and infall
ble vertue of curing the bitings of Vipers,
the faid Writers affirm. For my Gent,
keeps me from much trailing to thofe thing'
that have not been made out to me by Exp
riment \ although I do not prefently reje

the

( 3* )

:mas falfe before Experiment, but rather
ing defirous to know whether they be true,
)Ut them to tryal : But neither do I acqui-
:ein one or a few experiments, but I love to
more and more, being ever apprehenfive
1: 1 fhould be deceived;as it often hath hap-
n’d to me, when 1 have been ready to con*
e in one hafty experiment. And to lay truth
the monethof June these wanted not much
t that 1 had impofed upon my felf in the
al of an experiment, which I am going to
ate to you, and v hich done I fhall eafe you
further trouble.

Having read them in the Book of the New
xperiments , that the Head of a Viper, being
:en of an animal, bitten by another Viper,
d certainly cure the wound ; and the thing
ing by me looked upon as very.ufeful, ex-
lent, and admirable,! had an eager delire to
Kit my felf, that 1 might fpeakofit with
)re confidence, although thofe learned men
d made thefe two following experiments of
pag. 120. We bad alfo a defire to find
lether a Viper being eaten by an animal , which
bad bitten before , would be cured of that bi-
We therefore can fed to be flight ly broiled
head of a Viper , which had on it a part of the
' ck, newly fever d from the body ; and we cau-
I i a Dog to be thrice bitten at the ear,by a well

enraged

%

( 32 )

enraged, Viper, in fuch a manner that the blt\
came out at the three pricked places. We foon c\
before him the head and neck broiled , and j
hot. T he Dog, that was hungry , and felt not
foon the ejfeffs of the bitings , immediately fa
ed on the heady bruifed it between his'teeth , a
fw allowed it down. Jfter which we fay'd a pr
ty while to fee , whether the three bitings wot'
prevail over the devour'd head and neck \but t
Dog was free , except fome blewnefs and a lit:
Tumour he had at the places bitten , but whi
little by little vanifht in three or four days. 1
made alfo a Dog to be bitten three times in l
fame place, andwith out broiling the head of i
fame Viper that had bit him , we cajl it bef
him, hoping that he would eat it, becaufe he h
not eaten any thing for many hours before ; i
the Dog would not touch it. Upon that we brui
and Jlamped that head in a mortar, and fo cran
it down the Dogs throat, rubbing alfo the bin
places with the blood of the fame Viper ; wh\
done, we expelled the fuccefs, which was, tl
thts head, raw and bruifed , and if you will , 4
(fed by the blood of the Viper , being applied to t
part bitten, had produced the fame effects wi
the former, which had been f lightly broiled ;
regard that this Dog was fafe, excepting th
inconveniencics the former fufferd, and was J
ter that as found as if he had never been bittc

I

(33)

,tefe two Experiments had been made before
■ Gentleman, above difeours'd of, was bitten
Viper, we fhould have beqn in much lefs anx-
i for his prefervation.

ind a little before (pag. 119.) they had
. : We have try ed, that having caufed to be
,en at the thick ejl place of the car , by a fuffi-
tly vexed Viper , a young Cat , very lean ,
i" had btitjujl before eaten the Eggs, the Ma «,
r, and all the Guts of a Viper ; the biting had
ofi no effect, and there appeared nothing but
’ry little fwelling , and a very inconjidera-
lividnefs in the part bitten ,

Vndpag. 154. It is very certain , that the
id of a Viper, broiled and (wallowed, healeth
biting of that jinimal. The Heart and the
'er may do the fame . Keafon and Experience
e confirm'd it ; and therefore in an urgent
(ion thefe parts may be very beneficially cm-
c d •

\nd pag. 156. We believe, that the Liver
llowed is capable to heal the biting of a Vi~
dike the heart, fieJJj and other parts, of which
have fpoken ; and that it may much facilitate
delivery of Women With Child, as doth the
verof Eeles.

Hereupon I refolved to imitate thofe Gen-
uen, and having given a Vipers head half
iled to a chain’d young Toj, I caufed him

C hums

(34)

immediately to be bitten by an other Vi
in the right ear, but the Dog dyed not,
did he appear to me to have any other in<
venience than that he flood as kwere ama;
and looking grim, and melancho'ily, for foe
five hours fpace. I foon reiterated the l
Experiment upon another Dog, which
vingbeen forced to fvvallow the head of a,
per, raw and bruifed in a Mortar, gavej
fign of any great poifon, and had very Jj
andalmoft no ill enfuing. Whence I was
dy to reckon this Experiment among th
proved and true, when a doubt coming it
my mind, obliged me to caufe two oi
young Dogs to be bitten in their ears, who
though they had not eaten the counter-po
of a Vipers head, yet dyed not. Whence
fufpicion being increafed in me, I caufedi
be brought me the raw head of a Viper, i
crammed it into the throat of a young Pui
and then had its left thigh bitten by a Vipj
whereupon it prefently fell to the grou;
and in a little more then the eight part ofi
hour died. Whence the fufpicion grow
ftill greater, abouc ten a clock in the me
ing J made a Capon to eat two raw heads
Vipers, and afterwards about twelve a ck
I made him fwallow two others, and wi
out lofing any time I caufed him to be o;

bit

(35)

tten by a Viper in the thigh, and the Capon
mediately dyed, without finding any good
i the four fwallow’d heads. The next day
>repared for two young Dogs a difh of Vi-
r-heads parboiled, but they would not eat
hd, and we were forced .to cramm them
iwn : Soon after, the lefier of the two Dogs
s bitten in the thigh near the groin, and the
;ger in the tongue;and they both dyed. And
the like manner dyed eight Chickens, two
lings, two young Hares, and fix Turtle-
ves, likewife bitten by Vipers, and Phyfi-
;dnot only by their heads, both raw and
i.led, but alfo having their wounds walked
:h the Viper-blood. And I remember, that I
Ifed thofe 6 Turtle-Doves to be bitten nor
theheadsof live Vipers, but by thofe of
d ones, and fiuch as had dyed two days be-
*. Moreover,! continued for three days
cefiively to cram two fuch other Doves
h Viper-flelh, and gave them no other
nk then the broth of that flefh ; and yet
y could not efcape death, being bit ten by
iper.

Whence I am inclined to believe, that in
'cany the fiefh ofVipers is no help or reme-
, at leaft no confiderable one, to Animals
ten by Vipers. Meanwhile Irefermyfelf
:he Learning, Experience, and Authority
C 2 of

( 36 )

of thofe noble perfons, to whom I do m<
willingly fubmit this or any other opinion
mine, and with whom I would never entert;
a controveriie. For 1 fhould apprehend 1
it might befall me, what Marcus Tullius v
wont to fay of Cato, viz. That it was not 1
troublefome to him to anfwer to the authc
ty of Cato, then to his ftrongeft arguments,!

For the reft, I earneftly intreat you, &|
that you would pardon the rudenefs of t
my Letter, fufficiently appearing to h;
been written by aperfonfull of bufinefs,
ther then enjoying leifure;and that you wo
pleafe only to regard the naked truth, wh
without any paftion I did undertake to
late+

* A CONTINUATION
Of the

iJEW, EXPERIMENTS

CONCERNING

IPERS:

TOGETHER

ith a Difcourfe touching their Poyfon ;
By way of Reply, to a Letter written by
I Signor FRJNCESCO RED I,
to Meffieurs BOURDELO?
and O R U S ; Printed at Flo-

rence, 1670.

BysJKOTSE CHJRJS.

Englifii’d out of French*

LONDON ,

Printed by 7. K.for John Marty n Printer to the Loyal
Society , at the Beilin S. Paul) Churchyard, 1675.

HEW EXPERIMENTS

CONCERNING

PIPERS.

nifbt in the Fi efs At Paris, jiuguft 4. 1671.

Eelieved, I had fufficiently efta-
bliOi’d my opinion touching
the Foifon of Vipers by abun-
dance of Experiments, fuppor-
ted by Reafons , heretofore
iade publick : But there hath fince appear’d
t Paris a Letter of Signor Re di , in which
ic oppofes my Lent intents : And he being a
>erfon,whofe merit hath acquir’d him a great
eputation among the Learned, that Letter
>f his hath not been without making fome im-
1 predion in the minds of many, and in fome c
yen of thofe,that had relifh’d my opinion,

C 4 favor:

C 40 )

favour of which they feem’d to have alrea<
declared themfelvcs.

I might indeed have defended my felf as
that which is againft me in that Letter, fo
after it appear’d; having reafousftrongai
numerous enough to maintain and juftifief
I had advanced in my writing : But I thoug
icbetter to deferr it till Spring, to the ei
that after I fhould have made New Expei)
ments, and the more a {lur’d my felf of all, 1
might, by a renew’d knowledge of the trut
afterwards the better perfwade the public
thereof. It will therefore appear by this Si
quel of Experiments, here fet down, that 1 21
fo far from changing my Opinion, that I ha1
reafon to be more ftrongly than everconfi
med in what I embraced at firfh

I do herewith fincerely declare, that wTh<
I publifhed my book, my chief aim wra|
faithfully to relate all the truths I had difc<
ver’d, and not to offend Signor Red?, whom]
exceedingly efteem and honour for his rat
Talents, and whofefriendthip I hope to ha\:
a fbare in ; fofar was I from pretending ti
do any thing that might make him write ai
gain ft: my Book, or from fore-feeing that c
ver I fhould have occafion to labour to de
fend my felf again ft him : Which yet I fine
fciud otl.erwife, by the Letter he hath writ1

( 41 )

againftme, and even without honoring
with a Copy of it, wherewith he hath gra-
?d many perfons at Paris and elfe where, e-
j after 1 had had the advantage offome Let-
.ry Commerce with him, as I might eafily
ifie.

. canbeiides proteff, that when I refolved
ontradift certain points of his firft Let-
s it -was in a manner again!! my will, and
aufe I could not at alidifpenfe with it,ex-
1 1 would have baffled my fenfes, and that
it I faw my felf,together with a great num-
of witneiffes. I can alfo allure, that I
uld now be very ready to un-fay what I
e affirm’d upon this fubjeft, and to agree
b him, if I were not altogether pe fwaded
the contrary in the main things he hath
tten again!! my Sentiments.

Vfterthefe Protections, being well afflu-
as well by Reafon, as by many new Expe-
lents newly made, that I have affirrted no-
ig but what is true I found my felf in-
penfably obliged to maintain it, and to
der a good office to the publick,by endea-
iring to lliew that ’tis very difficult reafo-
>ly to oppofe any thing to the contrary.
The difference between Signor Kedi and
confifts chiefly in this, That he Pretends,
Jellow Liquor contain’d in the Vehicles

/ of

( 42 )

of the Gums of Vipers, to be the only a
true feat of their Poifon ; That thisjuyct
riot venomous when taken at the mouth, t
that it is fo when let into the wounds ma
by a Viper whillt fhe is alive,'and even
thole, which fire may be forced to make fe'
ral days after fhe is dead, provided thaty
low liquor do intervene; That the fame
quor drawn from a live.Viper,as well as t
of a dead one, is always venomous if let ii
wounds, and mingled with the blood of i
Animal wounded,whether it be ufed when
quid, or after it is dryed and reduced to pct
der ; and that it generally kills all kind
Animals into the wounds of which it ft
have been intromitted.

But I, who of all thele points can admil
none but that of the innocence of the yell
liquor when taken at the mouth, and op]
ftngmyfelfto all the reft; do fay, That
Poifon of a Viper is no where but in her en
ged Spirits ; that the yellow juyce as wel
a live Viper, and even a vexed one, as of <
that is either newly dead, or hath been fo
feveral days, contains in it no poifon at
neither in the biting, nor taken inwarc
nor put into wounds, nor mingled with
blood, nor any other way wherein it may
ufed ; that it kills nor infefts any kind oft

m

—

( 43 )

i; ; and that it is nothing but a meerand
bcent Saliva.

'he queftion muft principally be decided
matter of Fa<ft ; though it mayalfo be
tred by veyy pertinent reafons . I am far

0 accufing Signor Rcdioi unfaithfulefs in
Experiments ; though they were not made
;ublick as mine, and that fome thing might
>aid as to the formalities of the biting, and
ufingof the yellow liquor : His reputati-
s too well grounded to be blamed; and
! is the confederation which troubles me
b Mean time I fee the contrary to what
lath advanced againft my Book; and the
:hs which X there oppo'fe are fo clearly

1 in my Experiments Brft and laft, as well
hofe I have made only in the prefence of
ie curious perfons, as in thofe I have late-
nade inpublick, andbeforea great num-
ofPhyfkians and other perfons very ind-
igent in thefe matters. So that I can nor
;ht any longer to hide thofe truths, which
the chief inducement of writing this dif-
; rfe.

We need not wonder that Signor Redi, ha-
g made all his Experiments by order and
the expence of fo great a Prince, who is as
“ious as he is Munificent, had Vipers and
forts of Animals in far greater number than

C 44 )

I had ; I, who did all from my felf, at my o
charges, and with a meer defire to difc
truth from falfhood. Nor do I think, I '
obliged to multiply expences when the tr
was found fufficiently clear’d up, and all
by-ftanders acknowledged, that I had m
fufficient tryals for every Experiment,
fince he hath contented himfelf with hav
made fome of the yellow liquor to be fv
lowed by one only Man, one only Duck, <
only Kid, thence to know and to allure h
felf of its innocence when lwallow?d,with!
making a greater number of Experimeni1
He mult not blame me for having candi
bounded my curiofity, after I had in div
things made many more Experiments, t
he mentions he hath made upon this fubj(
as appears by what he writeth p. 1 7,8c r S1
his firft Letter. I find therefore, that he h
no great caufe to complain of me (as hedc
under the name of thofe Illustrious Authors ,
whom he afcribes my Book in his Letter)'
not having vouchfafed to makeExperime
enow to confirm the truth of the Obferv
ons about Vipers, contain’d in his firft I1
ter of 1 66 4. He had not, I fay, great ca
to fpeak ofit after fuch a manner, fince I <
do fo but in imitation of him, and becaufi
had in the fame Letter advanced and affu:

f

> ( 45 )

ticulars, which required not I fhould
ke more tryals then thofe 1 have defer ibed
ny Book : Although I can aflure to have
de more then I have recited. He knows
y well, that about the end of pag. 23. of
firft Letter he ufed thefe words.

, E quelveleno fljizza tutto fuora, fe non al
• i»», almeno al fecondo ntorfo ; Ji cbe ilterzo ( e
■ volte l ho ejperimentato) non e ve/e no fo :
tat is, yfnd that poifon iffues all out, if not at
f jirjl , at leaf at the fecond biting ; fo that
’ third (which I have often experimented)
not venomous.

And if,becaufeoftherefpe&I bear to the
, filings of a perfon of fo high a reputation, I
■ otght among divers other Experiments,
a having made one and the fame Viper, e-
ry time vexed, to bite five feveral Pige-
ts, which all died, and even the laft of them
oner then the reft, I might ftop there ; I
ink Signor Rcdi hath nothing to reproach
swith. He had affured in his firft Letter,
d affures the fame in his latter. That all the
)ifon did lodge in the yellow liquor, and
tat this poifon was all exhaufted if not at
te firft, yet at leaf! at the fecond biting, and
iat he had often experimented that the third
as no. more venomous : So that, if I was per-
vaded, that all the yellow Liquor muft be

come

C 40

came out by the fecond bit ing made upon |i
fecond Pigeon, and if, after that, I have i
dye three other Pigeons by the frefh biti|<
of the fameViperthat had bitten the twofi|
I do not think that Sign. Redi ‘hath righti
accnfe me for not having done enough :
might rather have done me that jufticeas |
acknowledge, that I had done more then)
nough to maintain my Reflexions, and tha i
was obliged from that tune »o feek the p i
fonelfe\vhere then in the yellow liquor,
regard it did no longer intervene, accordu
to him, in the three laft bitings, and that (
three laffc Pigeons were as foon, yea foom
dead then the two firft, of the death of whi
he could charge the yellow liquor. If I con
not find, no more then Sign. Rediy inallVl
body of the Viper, any other vifible or pi
pable part that was venomous, and tj
might jbftly be declared to be the feat of |
poifoipand the true caufe of the death whi|
enfued upon the three laft bitings ; he nr
not wonder, if I have fought and found it
the vexed Spirits , and if I have grounded J
felf upon the beft evidence, I could get fnt
Experiments and Reafon.

But fince the chief motive of my tryals ha
been the defire of exadly knowing theTrii
concerning thofe matters ; having feen tl

> ( 47 )

t ;n. Redi, pag. 31. of his Iaft Letter hath
fired. I would make new experiments after
t; Objections againft me : To be the more af-
•edofall, I have been willing to give him
it fatisfaCtlon, in giving it to my felf. For,
ithe moneth of Map lafl,in the Chymical La*
ratory of the Royal Garden, in the pre-
ice of two or three hundred by-ftanders,
th Fhyfitians and others, capable to judge
it, and worthy to be credited ; from a-
mgft many live Vipers, fen t me out of Dau~
\ne, and divers parts of Roittu, I chofe a
;at Feinal-Viper , that was lufty enough
twithftanding the great way ihe came, and
ving open’d her jawes, I very carefully
?aredand fqueezed out of them at feveral
petitions, all the yellow liquor contained
the bags of her gums, and that alfo which
ght be diffufed about the neighbouring
rts, with a fine piece of linnen cloth wound
out the handle of a penknife: Which done,
00k the fame Viper with Pincers about her
ck, and angred her in making her to fallen
r teeth into the end of her tail, and in pref-
gfrom time to time her neck with thofe
ncers ; and immediately after I prefented
her five Pigeons and two Pullets one after
other, to bite them in the moft flefhy part
their Cheft, having irritated her every time

©f

/ 4* ) , 1

of her biting* I purpofely wounded, a |
fix Pigeons audPullets in divers places, inti!
prefence of all the company, and let into ti:
wounds feme drops of the yellow liqw
drawn from the Vehicles of newly enraged 1
pers. I laid both forts a part; and the col
pany parted about an hour after, beft;
which time, five of the Pigeons and Pullei
that had been bitten, were dead, and the t\
remaining died about an hour after ; but t,
Pigeons and Pullets, which I had woundt
and in whofe wounds 1 had put in fome ofij
faidjuyee, ailed nothing, but that there a
peared fome lividnef, at the place woundt
and filch an one as might have been the
from the fo'e wounding them, and witht
any concurrence of that liquor. Two da
after, I fhew’d the company the fame wot
ded Pullets and the fame Pigeons , whit
were very well, and had their wounds alm<
perfectly healed up, only there remain’di
little blewnefs about the wounded parts,
would then have wounded the fame animals,
gain in other paces, and intromitted frei
yellow liquor : fome alfo of the by-ftandt
propofed to let into one of thefe creatur
fome of this yellow liquor by that way
Transfufion, that hath lately been made in c
vers parts of Europe^ of fome ft ranger blot
j, in

> ( 49 )

nhe veins 6f men, that fo this jiiyce be-
mingled with the blood by the ordinary
:u!ation,it might be able to aifcover what
r it could do. I readily complied with
ir motion" whereupon the intromiHion of
] liquor was attempted upon one of the
e Pigeons that had been wounded tw®
s before. One Phyfitian andtwQ Chirur-
lns did the work one after onother, in ma-
g both the incifion and the ligature of the
It difcernable velTels of the right wing :

: they let the Pigeon loofe fo much blood,
t it dyed fcoii after. Seeing this, I faid,
t the Pigeon dyed only from the lofsofits
od, and not from the letting in of the vel-
■ liquor ; and that it would be neceffary,
only Chirurgion ofthe Company fiou'd
tea new operation upon another of the
e Animals, that had been wounded 2 days
bre,and upon whom that yellow Juyce had
ibeentryed. The Operation was made
ordinglyat the fame time upon a Pullet,
ich did not only efcape again, but was feen
t next day and the following days by the
ole company to be very well ; as wereal-
he other animals that had been wounded
in at the fame time, and received of the
low liquor, though without the wav of
nsfufion. Yet true it is, that one of the
D Pigeon!

(50)

Pigeon?, that had been the fecond time woij
ded, was found dead feme time after its b
ing wounded, in a clofe earthen Furnace, ^
r y hot, and Panding clofe by luchanotb
where I then diftil ed feme fpirit and oyl |
Tobacco, and the death of which ought t
be imputed to the piercing vapors of this <j
{filiation, or to the excdTive heat of the Fi
nace in which it had been Pint up, whi
was found fo hot, that the heat of it could f
be endured by ones hand ; befides that be:l
clofed, almoP no air could enter.

Which being thus palled, yet forafmudh!
the reputation of Sign. Redi had acquit
him much efieem and favour from many p
Tons in Pam, 1 perceived fome of the cci
pany yet inclined to doubt,whether thisy
low Juyce were always innocent. Wherei
on, having by me 4 Dogs of different bignd
I prefs’d thofe that feemed mop to dou!
that they w ould transfufe or caufe to be trai
fufed fome of that reputed poifonous liqi
into all thofe Dogs, or at leap: into one or i
f her of them; but how inPant foever I w
no body would undertake it. It was j
ledged, that thofe Animals were too Rob
to Succumb under fuch an operation, fir
the Pullet, that had endur’d it, and twice!
the yellow liquor, had efcapedas well as

oth

y ler Animals, that had been wounded again
he fame time with it, and that hadalfo re-
ved into them fome of that liquor. Which
ligedme to proteft,it was not my fault that
was not experimented a frefh, and to pray
company to take therefufalof thofe per-
is for an acknowledgment of the innocence
athe yellow liquor.

But not being fatisfied herewith, I refer-
l the matter to the next day, andpromi-
Ito have ready new Animals, of a leffer
?than thofe Dogs ; the more amply to ve-
ie the innoxioufnefs of that juyce by new
romiffions thereof into wounds.

I had then prepar’d fix Pigeons, and two
tlings; and engaged a perfon whom I knew
>ft favourable to Signor Red/, to make him-
ftheincifion, and intromit the yellow li-
or as he fhould think beft. He made fuch
)unds as hepleafed, and he did even fever
■e skin of the flefli round about the wounds
had made, and fo far, that I could not hold
tell him fin i ling, he did more than Signor
himfelf faid in his Letters he had done;
d added, Eon/ ejfe aft dr is fonder e, non de
t here , A good Shepherd did Sheer, not Flea
s Sheep.

One of the Catlings was bitten in the Car-
lagineouspart of theEar, without anyap-
D 2 gearance

(50 ,

pearance cf b’oocl at the place of the bitin,
and it efcapecl. The other, which was mu
lefs, and a very noted one by the b’ackn
of its colour and by having her ears cut .<j
was purpofeiy wrounded on the upper pi
ofher neck behind, and alfo at the lower be
of the hinder part of the head;its skin alien
feparated from the fieffi round about i
wound, and on both hides, almoftas far as
the fore pare of the neck : And then as mi
of the yellow liquor as they would was ]
into both tides as well as into the wou
This Cat he'd down her head, by rea
doubtlefs 6f the pain fhe endured by hav
in a manner been dead a> ive ; feeling alfo he
pain in two other places, where die had b
wounded and Head. Some of the by-ftand
began already to mutter, and laid, 1 sfliould
cart, and the Cat would certainly dye ;
notwithstanding the Cat did not dye, thoi
fhe was very little and taken out from urn
her dam ; and Hie was Ihew’d to the com
n y 24 hours after, found and fafe, althoi
fhe had nei ther fuck’d nor eaten any thing
that time- And ’tis remarkable enough, t
this very Car, having been returned to a F
at to whom Hie belonged, and being gre
big, ha' h ret to this day the hind- part of
skull unclofed at the place of her wou#

C 53 )

^ id notwithstanding all that, & the falling off
fome flefh and skin, that were fever’d from
e places where flie was flead, fhe is very
]t jtiy and full of play, and very diverting
r! mickgeftures.

d fhe fix latter Pigeons, that had been woun-
lo' d at the fame time, and received of theyel-
> v liquor, were like wife producedjand they
?reyet kept five or fix days with the other
i geo ns and Pullets that had been twice
i minded before ; among which was that alfo
which the transfufion had been imitated,
eai : lad they were killed, rolled, and eaten,
iv good company, of which were fome of
f( ofe that faw them woundedjand that found
1 em very good and favoury meat.
i( Amidft all thofe Experiments 5 omitted not
d try, whether the heads of Vipers newly
;ad, having yet their necks on, with all their
J Slow liquor, would be able to kill Animals,

: / making them to be bitten by them. I tryed
upon Pigeons and Pullets, by thrufting the
eth into them as deep as I could. I emp'oy-
1 alfo to the fame purpofe fome whole Vi-
ers, which I had found dead among the live
aes in the barrils, and which abounded in
le yellow liquor. But this was always wit li-
nt any inconvenience to the Animals bitten,

3 far was it from killing them.

d3

I here

( 54 ) ^

I here pafs by many other Experimer :
made at my houfe, in the prefence of fevctl
Phy(itians,that did all agree in making out t?
innocence of the yellow liquor, and in afc:
bing the poifonoufnefs to the enraged fpiri
Yet I muff not leave here un-mentionej
what was done by three youngPhyfitians,wli
being perfwaded of the truth of my Expe:i
ments,as well concerning the innocence of tl
yellow liquor, as that of bitings made wit
out the angred fpirits, caufed their fingers
be bitten, to ftrifes, by a dead Viper havi
yet all her yellow liquor, and that fodee
that the blood of it appeared to all: But th:|
found no other inconvenience by it, but wh
they might have felt from prickings made 1
a needle.

I had certainly made a far greater numl:
©f Experiments if I had not obferved, thl
Sign. Rcdi himfelf had already made ma
for me, and for the maintaining of my Sen
ments ; and among others that of fag. 2 G.
his firft Letter of Obfer vat ions, where
faith,

Si mori unpollajlro morficato , &c. That j
7 here dyed a Pullet hit ten by a Viper , the peh
pf rvhofc teeth l hud cut off ; and cut of wh
vehicles 1 had fquee^d out all that ill juyee tl
is there.

x ( 55 ;

‘or, fince by his ownconfeffion,there dy*
Pullet by having been bitten by a Viper,
points of w hofe teeth he had defignedly
off, and all whole yellow liquor (which
rails the ill juyce, and will have to be the
y feat of the poifon) he had careful’y
tfs’d out of the vehicles of her Gums ; Re
h no more ground then I, to charge the
.th of the Pullet upon a liquor, which w as
re no more, nor upon the points of the
th, which he had cut off. And he cannot
)id toaccufewithmethe vexed fpirits of
? Viper, and to fall into my opinion, viz,,
at the venom of the Viper is not a grofs
t ter, .but fomething invisible and fpiritual.
And to fliew again, that Signor Redi hath
xnired, without being aware of it, to jufti-
my Sentiment, and that at the fame time he
inifeftly contradi&s himfelf, by deftroying
his laft Letter his fir ft Propositions, which
Ti hat all the venom of the Viper ijfues at the
jl , or at leaf at the fecond biting, and that the
nrd ti venomom no more, as he affureth to
ive often experimented;to Shew that, I fay, I
lall alledge the words of pag. 33, 34, and
5. of his laft Letter, viz.

Sul frincipio di maggio fcelji una viper a ,&c.
fhat is. About the beginning e/May I chafe a
Fewal-Viper, one of the biggejl and lujliejl,and

D 4 vexed

C $6 }

Vexedher to bite ten Chickens , one after a
' ther , in the right thigh ) of which the JirJi , .
Cond and third died, almofi in an infant) i
foil: th jet rn d only to be jick) but the fifth am
the refl did not only not dye , but were not at \
Jick) and yet every time the Viper did bite
angred and madded her exceedingly. In j
moneth of June 1 repeated the Experiment
fve tame Ducks , bitten by one and the fame
per , which alfo immediately after bit th
young Turtle-Doves. The firfi wounded dj
three hours after ; the fecondfivc hours aftt
the refi efcaped. ’ Tis <true , the firjt m\

tion d of the Turtles dyed , but not the other t)
Of twelve Ring-Doves at one time there dp
but four Jut the next day of twelve others thi
dyed fix. Of five Rabbets there dyed three
and of three Lambs- the two Ufi dyed ; the j
of them dying two hours after it had been biti
Thefefeveral Experiments dire&iy cc
tra y to the firft affertion of Signor Re
were capable to perplex any other head h
his, Forfirft, he hath feen, that often Pi
lets bitten one after another by one only \
per, the three firit dyed fuddenly, and t
fourth was fo me what rick ; He hath feen, ti
of five Ducks and of three Pigeons,bitteno:
after another by a fingle Viper, the two fii
Tucks dyed, as a’fo one of the Pigeons, wbi<

v ( 57 )

d been bitten even after the five Ducks: He
fo faw once, that of twelve Pigeons bitten,
>ur dyed ; that another time of twelve there
taped but the moiety; and that office Rab-
:ts, likevrife bitten, there were but two that
haded dying.

I cannot but be amazed, that all thefe Ex-
eriments have not been able to change his
pinion, or at lead to fufpend it. Nor do I
•oubt but that the number of Anima’s that
r/ed would have been much greater, if the
itings had been made in other places but the
fgs. For, befides that they have their bones,
ervec, and tendons, that are able to blunt
he point of the teeth at the firft biting; they
avealfo their Mufcles, which are very vif-
ous, and therefore fail not to imbue the teeth
f the biting Viper, thereby flopping in part
reir Pores, and even hindring them by that
i Xcofity from entring far in the enfuing bites,
nd I likewife doubt not, but that will come
opafs more and more in the reiteration of
heir bitings. Nor do I wonder, that the
Ducks did not dye fo foon as the Pullets or
dgeons, nor that there dyed lefsofthem; for,
xfides the reafons juft now alledged, they
lave their skin, bones, and all parts much
larder, and far more difficult to be pierced
oy the Vipers tee, h, than th ofe of Pigeons or

Pullets.

c 58 j

Pullets. Now I do not find any part mor^
proper to try divers bitings, then the flelh
part of the cheft, which hath neither Nerve:
nor Tendons, nor bones near, nor that Vifcc
fity found in the Mufcles of the legs.

Mean time thefe Experiments made b
Sign. Redi himfelf, muff oblige him, as far a
I can judge, to relinquifh his firft Afiertion
And if he will perfift to maintain, that tl
yellow liquor is the true feat ofthepoifoi
he muft needs believe that liquor to be ir
exhauftibie, and that always there fucceec
fome frefh, in all the bitings of a Viper ; o
ifhe will abandon his opinion, and afcrifc
thepoifonno more to the yellow liquor, 1
muft find out fome other fubjeft to afiign
to, except he pleafe to take mine, and t
lodge it in the irritated fpirits;in regard th:
he cannot find it in the yellow liquor, whir
is no more there, after the fecond biting (
himfelf aftureth ;) and which muft yet mo
evidently be wanting there, when defigned
hehadwith care taken it out of the bags i
the gums of the Viper that bit the Pullet, an
the bite of which was followed by the dea
of the Animal bitten.

But if Sign.-R^’ fhould. now be in an hum* f
to alter Ms opinion, and to judge the yello 1
liquor to be neceffaryin all the bitings ofi

Vipi

* f 59 )

'iper (though that be an impoftible thing ; )

Is opinion would never be received by dif-
itereffed perfons, that have feen my fir ft and
ft Experiments;among which perfons there
'e fome, eVfen of the nioft able, who, having
; re to fore examin’d the Salival Glanduls up-

In the defcription I gave them of it after I
id difcover’d them, did there obferve alfo
i)m'e fmall Lymphatic Veffels, more numerous
ten thofe that had firft appeared to me; and
/ho, having feen the laft Letter of Sign. Rediy
ere willing to fufpend their Judgment until
le making of my new Tryals, which have al-
ogether confirm’d them in my firft opinion.

For, no^ to fpeak of this, that in the pre-
face of divers perfons, even ofthebeft qua-
ity, at feveral times and places, in divers af-
“mblies,& even in theConferencesof theAb-
>ot Bourdelot ; I have fwallow’d fome of the
mellow liquor taken out of the bags of the
rums of many live and enraged Vipers, with*
)Ut finding the lead inconvenience from it,
10 more then the Viper-catcher of Sign.Ee^f:
.’can boldly affure all the world, that at no
:ime, in no place, there ever dyed any animal
of all thofe I have wounded,or feen wounded
on purpofe, and into the wounds of which
that liquor hath been intromitted, although
it had been drawn hot out of the Veficles of

the

C 60 ) *

the gums of Vipers exceedingly vexed; fof
is it, that the Joyce of dead Vipers was ah
to annoy any animal. I can alfo affiire, th
never any head of a dead Viper, whether t
Animal were who e, or that head only wi
its neck, and though it abounded with th
yellow liquor, hath done any harm to man i
any other Animal, bitten by it.

The yellow liquor, which I fwal low’d
oneof the conferences of the Abbot Bottrdel
puts me in mind of a Letter, which M. L
Tapieres, a very curious, fincere and able
pothecary of Bourbon V Arckamband, hi
written to him, which was there read, and
mong other things did relate, That in the ye
1630. he had taken a Viper, whole crook
teeth he had cut, and that he carried her in \
bofjm ; and that after two or three days,a fa
cy taking him to approach her to his fac
pr effing her a little, ffie bit him in his lip,ai‘
thereby caufed great pain to him; whereupc
he flung her to the ground and in his ang'
cruffit her in pieces ; that his lip and fa
fwelled ; that a Ligature was made upon hit
that Treacle was given him, and fome of
applied to the bite ; that at the place of tl
wound there appear’d a little bladde
whence iffiied two or three drops of 1
quor of a dark yellow colour, and th;!

h

v , C £r )

> face remain’d very pale for a inoneth.
If my opinion be asked about this Expe-.

. inent, 1 declare that there is nothing in it,
hch I ought not to believe ; and I acid alfc,
at there hapm’d nothing in it, which agrees
It with the principles by me eftabliflfd and
, lintain’d. For, although the great teeth
'that Viper had been cut, which might have
>ne further, and mingled the enraged fpirits
: the Viper with the blood of M. Tapieres ;
?t they had not cut the point of the fmali
eth, which I fihew’d in the fame conference
, ngether with the other neighbouring parts
j 1 the teath of a live Viper, fent to Monfieur
, our de let by the fame Apothecary that had
een bitten :of which fmali teeth I have here-
i afore given the defcription and figure, as
■ rell as that of the upper and lower Jawes, in
; /hich they are faftn’d, as may be feen in my
inatomy of Vipers, in the Sc If ion of the teeth,
nd the third Cut of that book. For, a1-
houghthofe little teeth have not the length
lor thicknefs of the great ones ; j et they have
he fame fhape and the fame matter ; for they
ire bony, crooked, tranfparent, and very
"harp ; fo that the vexed fpirits may pafs in-
to them as into fmali Funnels, and through
heir Pore?, as they do tl orough thofeof the
bigger ones : Put they cannot go very deep,

became

( 62 )

becaufe their finalnefs permits them not t<|
carry their openings as far as into theflefl
and all they can doe, is, to open theskii j
Now to reafon upon the accidents that be
fellM .Des Trafieres by this bite, as the;
are fee down in his Letter; I fee nothing i
them that isnot very natural, and very credit
ble. For, although the angred Spirits hat
entred by the openings made by the fma.
teeth ; yet they could not penetrate the fid! ,
nor mingle with the blood, becaufe thofe a,
pertures were not deep enough , and the
could do no more but to make their efFoi(
’twixt the flefli and skin ; whence follow’
the fwelling of the Up and face, and the in
preflion of the pale colour, which appear’,
there during a moneth ; which accident
might at firft have been eafily prevented b
one only dofe of the volatil Salt of Viper:
which would have made the enraged Spirit,
to tranfpire, that lodged between the flef
and the skin, and could find no entry to pa.
further. As to the little bladder, which wasfoi
med at the place of the bite, and the two c
three drops of dark liquor that iffued aftei
wards, that was nothing but a little feroi
moifture that had been gather’d there froi
the neighbouring parts, and that had bee
called by the comprefliou of the Ligaturi

„ (63)

jd by the bruiting made by the teeth and
Jwesatthe time of the biting, and without

Iy intervention of the yellow liqUor, which
tides its innocence, could not haveentred
rough fuch fmall apertures.

After fo many Experiments, and upon fo
my Reflexions which I have made, as well
1 the yellow liquor, as on the irritated fpi-
ts of Vipers, I cannot comprehend, how
le Animals of Sign. Redi could dye all and
ithout any exception by the intromifiion
f the yellow liquor into the wounds, h£ had
ade in them, and by the biting of heads fle-
er’d, or by that of entire Vipers that had
een dead feveral days. I have too many ex-
eriments to the contrary, and too many wit-
efles, to put it out of doubt, and to fix me in
iy firft opinion.

But, to the end that among the Truths by
le advanced, and confifting in matter of faft,
he publick may find wherewith to be flatis-
ied ; I thought my flelf obliged to explain my
enfle upon thefle matters, and to form to my
elf the Obje&ions, that may be made againft
ne.

I flay therefore concerning the Tellorv Li -
(Hor , That nothing can a 6. from it flelf, but ac-
cording to its nature, thediflpofition of the
natter of which it is compofled, and the force

of

1 V

( <4 ) ,

of itsadivity. For example, you will no ;
find in River Water, the tafte, ftrength, no ;
particles that are found in Wine, nor will
that inebriate like this ; it hath not the acri|
monynor penetrancy of Urine, neither thi
colour not bitternefs of Gall : The Spirit c
Wine, that is freed from the aqueous parts
which hindred the Wine from producing th '
effeds it was capable of, is much more fub
tile and ftrong, then the fame wine whence i |
hath been drawn : The Volatil Salt of Win
hath quite another penetrating force than th
Urine which contained it before its fublima
tion: And not to go from my fubjed ; th
volatil Salt of Vipers is very different fron
theflefhand bones of them, whence it hat!
been extraded ; and, though in fmall quanti
ty, it will work more in a moment as well b
its odour as its piercing venue, than ten time
as much of that matter, whence it hath beei
drawn, could effed in many hours : The bi
leous, fharp, fait and fpirituous ferofity,tha|
is often form’d in our bodies, will fuddenb
produce inflammations in the eyes, tumors ii
the cheeks, gums, throat, and. many othei
parts, as alfo Pufiuls, St. Anthony fire, anc
the Gangrene it felf; andallthatit does b}
thecompofition ofits parts, and the force o
itsadivity; whereas the thick and vifcou:

Phlegtm

(6$)

egme will do no fuch thing, but chargeth
ure only by its weight, cold, and tenacity:
is Phlegme, I fay, will ever be incapable
working with quicknefs , and it cannot
)duce any’ efied but veryfiowly, and in
portion to its power, which is extreamly
iifined.

5o then, it is not the nature of the yellow
nor, to pafs fwifdy to remote parts, and
ire to ad with vigor and violence ;
ich is obferved in the poifon of a Vi-
•. I fay, that a tough, vifcous, and
1 manner mfipid Saliva, cannot make any
rat progrefs in a moment. I affirm befides,
t’tis impoffible, itfhould corporally en-
i into the holes made by the teeth, which
: very final 1 and almoft invifible, and that it
juldalfopafs through the cavities of the
th, and much lefs through their Pores, if
y would have them pafs that way I I fay
rther, that although the teeth of a Viper
Diild be all over imbued with that Juyce at
e time of her biting*, the skin of the Animal
tten, and the flefh it felf, if need were,
ouldkeepit out of the bitten place, and
nder it from entring there ; That though it
lould be able to enter , it mufc have a fit
lace to receive it, a great pafiage to go
irougb,and a long time to arrive to the parts

E remote *

r

(66)

remote ; I fay alfo, that though it were ar:i
ved there, (if that were poflible,) it could i|
ver ad: beyond the forces, which nature hsi
redrained it to.

Befides,ifthis yellow liquor .were capal,
of any confiderable operation, it would n
fail to di (cover it either in whole or in pa: i
when ’tis fwallow’d and got into the ftomac
where the place, the heat, and all thirt
would feern to concur either to make it ft
ment, if its matter were difpofed for it, or
reduce its power into adion : For, by p:
ling out of the domach into the intedins
would infed the Chyle, and make of it a pc
Ton, which would be car tied jointly with i
through the milky veflels, and through t
Thoracique DudusV, fo happily difeover
by the illudrious M. Fecquet, to defeend i
to the Heart with the blood, the which is t
matter, on which the poifon of Vipers dc
fo particularly exert its dominion. And tl|
way is much more eafie and large, than that ■
the Opening, made by the teeth, by whii
this juyee cannot fo much as enter. I fay th
further, that, if it were fuch as Sign. Re
makes it to be, it would, being taken at t]
mouth and let down into the domadympre
upon the places of its padage, and thofe of i
day, fome mark or other ofits power, efpec

all

\ (67)

!y if it did contain any jh Rented Salts?
lich would not fail, foon to manifeft them-
ves either by their tafte or by foir.e other
eds: And yet all thofe that fhall tafte or
allow this9 yellow liquor, fhallnever per-
iveany malignity whether great or fmall,
ither in the mouth, nor in the ftomach, nor
ewhere. I conclude therefore from all
:fe confiderations, that this juyee contaias
it no part at all, that is able to difTolve, or
igulate, or difeompofe any part of our bo-
;&that it hath not any quality, manifeft or
:ulr,to fhew that ’tis capable of doing fo.
T add moreover, that this juyee, as flat and
vous as it is, is always found fo yellow in
parts of France^ that it can hardly be lefs
our’d than ’tis in Italy j and that they both
It have altogether alike qualities, or, at
t, very near fuch. And it would be to
purpofe, to alledge in favour of Sign Redl,
t the div'erfity of places and climats, or
t Of aliments might be able to change the
ure of Vipers, and caufe that manifeft dif-
?nce, there is between his Experiments
1 mine. For, although fome diverfity may
obferved in other things, there can be
id none in this; and if there could befome
erence, it cannot be that the nature of the
ow juyee, and that of the Spirits fhould
£2 be

( 68 ) ,
be quite changed ; fince we find in France i
fame marks in that liquor, which Sign. Rt
hath found and defcribed in that of Italy, a
fince our Vipers, without any intervbnti
of that juyce, do kill as nimbly afs his can d
"But I think it would be much, if in the y
low liquor, or in the enraged fpirits, th<
could be obfervd any Jhtall degree of qua'
ty, ftronger or weaker in Italy than in Fran
For,! have by a great number of experime:
made it out, that all the Vipers of Fran
though taken in very different places, and
ten fechasarefixfcore Leagues diftant fr
one another, have their poifon altogether
like, and do kill equally. Whence I infe
that the difference of the Vipers of Italy a
France , cannot be confiderable ; fince D
phine, which is a Province in France that f
nifiheth us with many of them, and is v<
mountainous as well as Italy , borders up
Fiemont , which is the beginning of Ital
and that the fame Vauphme abounds in 1
pers in its utuioft extremity ; and fince a
all Vipers, we get from thence, have their}
low liquor always very innocent,though h
colour’d. And I can truly fay, that th*
Vipers, that have ferv’d me mofi; both in
firft and laft experiments, were ikoff of th
lent me out of Dauphine , and that I was w

%

/

( 69 )

jg to make ufe of fuch, as being commonly
hger than moft of thofe that were fent me
[to fPoictou ; that, at lea ft, which ferv’d
to bite the live firftPigeons, which I fpake
in my firft, Experiments ; and that w^ich
j: the feaven Iaft Pullets and Pigeons, were
[I thofe of Dauphimy and even of the bigger
|:t that could be procured'.

And it would have been to no purpofe to
[ve ufed any tooth of a V iper fever’d from
head, and much lefs to wipe it dry with
{lie bread crums, in hopes it fhould kill any
limal by pricking it therewith ■ feeing the
pthj that had of the yellow liquor upon
■m, without being feparated from the dead
•ads, were not able to do any harm, no not
[ofe of live ones,without the concurrence of
je enraged fpirits. And if fometimes I have
fade ufe Qfbread-crums, fometimes of a fine
nnen ragg, to wipe away all the yellow li-
Uorof the veficles, that was never but in
ve Vipers j to fhew, that it wras not that li-
luor which did kill, but the vexed .Spirits
[nly, entring by means of the biting.

We are not to imagine neither, that a Vi-
er teareth by biting, unlcfs having made her
b thruft her teeth into the fiefh of fome ani-
oal , you do immediately after draw her a-
ay by the reft of her body ; /We are not, I

E 3 fay,

r

S

(70 )

fay, to pretend, that a Viper doth, by Bitir
ofher own accord, make any. great openin
at which the yellow liquor is able to ente
For, fhe doth no more but thruft in her teet
far enough, and prefently draw them out ;
gainjwith as much eafe as a Cat dt’aws out h
claws when he will. Befides, you cannot pe:
ceive but two very little holes, which do a
fo feem as ’twere clofed again by the fiefl
arid which would hardly be difcern’d, if tl
pain of the bite, or the accidents enfuing,di
not oblige us to loik very narrowly to it.

We alfo never fee, that the poifon fatter
it felf to the part bitten, nor that the evil b<
gins by a mortification, or by a gangren
there. For, if that were fo, and if the vcnoi
did lodge at the entry, it would be muc
more eafie to matter it. I know alfo by m;
ny Experiments, that thy poifon never flay
at the place where it enters, blit infinuates i
felf very nimbly into the Veines, to mingl
with theblood; efpecially if the bitebat
open’d for it a paflage free enoifgh to arriv
there. I know, that there it produces after
wards thofe troublefome accidents, whicl
enfue upon the biting ; and that laftly it can
fetbdeatb,ific be not prevented by a quick re
lief. Which clearly fhews, that a poifjn c
this nature mull: needs have difpofitions t
•.'/ . - ; * pew

C 11 )

aetrate, very differing from thofe that ap-
ir in a yellow liquor, that is incapable of
fudden motion afid operation.

[t would alfo prove an ufelefs labour, to
k at the place of the biting, in hopes of
ting out from thence a Juyce, which could
t enter there. And though I do not dip-
:ii; )ve this way of fuccours 01T fuch occafion ;
if; 1 1 know, that all what the fucking can do,
tyd to fetch out agaan part of the enraged fpi-
s, that had enter’d by the openings of the
:e. I know alfo, that a fpecifique reme-
ili) ’, taken at the mouth, is far better,
y I would be in vain, to objed unto me the
fr ample of the feed of Animals, which, not-
« lithftanding its vifcofity, ferves daily to
opagate that Species which produces i t ;
d that it could in like manner come to pafs
the yellow liquor to convey the ' venom in
e biting. For befides that the feed is the
ureft and moft elaborat part which an ani-
al can produce ; it is alfo accompanied
ithftore of Spirits ; and there needs, be-
des, the concurrence of many other means
s well to introduce and to receive it, as to
orm and perfed the Foetus : There is more-*
•ver necefTary an afii fiance of abundance of
pirits from the mothers fide ; a juyce pro-
xmtbnateand proper for itsnourifhment and

E 4 increafe

C 72 ) v

increafe, and a ftifficiefit time for the fair!
Whereas the yellow liquor, that can pafs f
nothing but a juyce excre-'pd out of the Sa j
val G'anduls, after it had been fent thithl!
from the brain and the neighbouring pari
and that is deftitute of fpirits and of all d !
pofition to aft ; wants alfo a paffage fuffieie
to intromit it, and a place proper to lod
in. And jf you fliould grant it an entry, ail
a place to fojourn in , it mu ft have a nun
longer time than the feed, ofwhich I was fpei
king. But with all this time and all the
thercircumftances, it would fill be incap!
ble of working any thing at all perfeft, ari
perifh of it fejf; without any remarkab
produftion.

If any fiiould fay, That this yellow liquj
may have fpirits proper and proportional
to its nature, and that they are not wanting *
make thepoifon work at the moment of tl
biting ; but that, being drawn out of the v<
ficles,and expofed to the Air,thofe fpirits ai!
diffipated, and thereby render it incapab)
©fall aftion : I anfwer. That, without ftayirj
upon what I have amply made out of its innc
cenceinall kind of ufes. Signor Redi himfe:
contradifts it, as I have mentioned above
firce he pretends, that the Juyce even of fuci
Vipers as have been dead for feyeral days, 6

V c 73 )

at is dryed to bcgk, ceafeth not to infinuate
5 venom without any intervention offpirits,
hen it is put intcpwounds. But, befides all
lat, many Experiments have evinced to me*
■at death follows the biting without any in-
dention of the yellow liquor, and then
hen it hath been perfectly wiped away,
[oreover, it is well known, that ’tis the na-
me of fpirits, to he in motion, to fallen them-
■Ives to, and to follow the parts that have
oft of them, as for example, the blood. It
alfotobe noted, that the fpirits, that do
ifinuatethe poifon, are not of the nature of
aofe that follow' the ordinary motion of the
: Ipod of the animal ; that they do not joyn
lemfelves to it, as thofe ; and that neither of
hem have any union with the* yellow liquor*
>?hich is but a meer excrement : But that the
\pirits, I fpeak of, do form themfelves in the
ipmcnt that the Viper conceives the Idea of
evenging her felf ; and they need not the em-
larafmentof filch a dull and vifeous juyee,
vhich is not qualified to follow them, nor to
aafs through the imperceptible pores of the
eeth, which the fpirits only can penetrate,
no more then they can any ways enter through
|:he holes, which the teeth have made. In a
■ word ; the nature of a gro Is, tough and vif-
1 epus juyee is not, to act, penetrate, and be

fwift*

e 74 ) 1 ,

vv ifcly carried to the moft remote parts of th
body; but that belongs to fpirituous fub
ftances, to go and come whfcre grofs corpe
rail ones cannpt. ' Thefeare the only fpiritSj
that can fubvert the whole Oecon6my of th
body ; they are they, that difturb the circu i
lation of the blood, and that corrupt it ; the}
are they, that flop the natural and animal fpii
rits, and hinder them from palling to th<
parts of the body as they were wont to do
and lafbly, ’tisby the let of them, that th<
death of theAnimal ufually enfueth the biting!

As to what may be obje&ed, that ’tis verj:
difficult, fo exa&ly to evacuate the yellow li-
quor, that there remain none at all ; and thai
it may very well come to pafs, that a 1 it tie o:
it intervenes in all bitings: I anfwer, that be-
tides that this is alfo againft the opinion ol
Sign. Redi, and which he hath renounced in
his firft AlTertion ; the Salival Glandnls.|
though many in number, yet are too fmall and
have too little capacity to contain ;uyce e-
nough to furnifli for that purpofe ; and thatj
that cannot be expe&ed but from great ani-j
mals, that have thofe Salival glanduls and the
other parts far bigger : And though it were
poffible, they fliould fufficiently furnifli, I
do maintain, that the impoffibility of intro-
mitting that juyee, and its evinced innocence,

ought

V C,75 >

light to fuffice fopconfuting this ObjedUpm.

' Yet this I fball here fay in favour of Sign.
lediy That I doubj: not but that this yellow

0 quor, as Salivotfs and Excrementitious as it
ts>, contains its VpJatil Salt, as well as all the
Mther parts of a Viper, and all the parts of
Animals, and even all their excrements, and
e)jhat confequently it is to be reputed fpiritu-
%is. But then, befides that thefe fpirituous
libftances are never hurtful, they are yet too
Ultimately mixed and locked in with their
Matter, and they cannot produce their effects
igirithout being feparated from it; which can-
not be but by a violent heat, and in veflels fit
'■or it. I fay therefore, that by art there may
W>e extracted a true Volatil Salt out of this
°fellowTiquor,& even without any addition
‘or mixture of other matter ;which may bepror-
j^ed to be of the fame nature with that of the
wither parts of a Viperjand that Vis fo far from
w, :>eingable to work like poifon,that t’is very
Proper and effectual to matter all the ill acci-
dents, which the bite of a Viper may caufe ;
^bf which I doaccufe the enraged fpirits alone.
Wpince therefore Sign. Redi hath dried and
‘iKaidafide the yellow liquor of two hundred
erc, md fifty Vipers, and may eatt! y obtain much

1 more of it • ’tis in his power, to extradh fuch

> | fa.lt out of it, when he pleafeth, to verifie
-jJ • what

( 70 Vs

what I was juft now faying..; And if, to fav
himfelf that labour, by reafon of his other ini
portant occupations, he fhrjl pleafe to l'enci
me a competent quantity thereof, Ido wit!
all my heart offer my felf to prepare it fo
him, thereby to let him fee not only the in
nocence of this juyce, but alfo the great bene
fit, that is hid in it.

Concerning the Billow Breath of a Viper
that may be charged to intervene with thi
yellow liquor, and to envenom it ; I am c
opinion, that that is nothing but a difguife c
the enraged fpirits. I aftert, That the tru
Breath of a Viper is ever innocent, howbili
ous fbever it be reprefented ; that there if
fues not any ill feentout of her throat, no
out of her guts, nor from the parts made t<
void the excrements ; that Vipers among c
ther marks are in this different from Snakes
that thefe have their excrements and the part
containing them very fetide and ofa fmell o
flunking Urine; whereas you cannot perceivl
any ill fmell in any part of a Viper ; that tb
Spirits which carry the venom are quite ano|
ther thing than the breath coming from tb!
Lungs; that thofe fpirits have no union noi
correfpondence with the Bilious humour '
that they are not formed but at the inftant o
the irritation; and laftly, that they need nq

fuel'

^ C/77 )

ich thingas an excrement itious and ufelcfs
quor, pretended to intervene, fit for no-
ting but to gargb the paffage of the place,
trough which the vexed fpirits have en-
red.

But the better to fhew the impoffibility of
he intervention of this breath, and to make
t appear,that it never contributes any thing
othe poifon; you may take notice, that a
Pipers head cut off, feparate from the Lungs
.nd all communication with the Gall, and in-
apable to yield any breath, and deprived
rvenof all that yellow liquor ; yet failes
not to kill by its biting as long as ’tis alive,
f the animal have been provoked ; juft as
:!j mould come to pafs, if a bite were made by
the head of a Viper that is whole and alive,
if no remedy were applied.

Touching the Communication, that may
: alfo be pretended to be between the bladder
ofGalland the yellow liquor, by r^afon of
1 fome refemblance of colour ; I fay, that, be-
fides that my Sentiments in thefe matters are
very conform to thofe of Sign. Redi ; that we
have both of us juft ifted the innocence of the
juyce contained in the Bladder of Gall ; that
we have denied, there is any veffel carrying
this better juyce into the vehicles of the gums,
to make that yellow liquor which is found

there

C 78 J

there: andlaftly, wL.have unanimoufh
sontradi&ed the errors of the Antients abou
this pretended channel ; besides this, I fay
the truth of what yve have affirmed i$ ver;
eafie to prove,by tailing the yellow liquor o
the"Gall, which is very bitter and very fharp
though very innocent, and by comparing
with that of the veficlesof the. Gums,, which
is very flat, though equally innocent.- The
fame may be yet better made out by diffe-
ring one or more Vipers ; where, no more
than in Serpents and all other animals, you
will never find any veffel, that carries this
bile of the Bladder of Gall to the. Gums ; and
you wiU'there fee nothing, but veins and ar-
teries filled With true blood. Of this there
will benodoubt,.ifyoupleafe only to tafte
it ; for you will find nothing but the ordina
ry tafte of blood. To be yet moreaffur’d of
it,you may tafte all that runs out of the body
of a Viper when the head is fever’d frqm her;
for you fliall find no bitternefs.at all, nor o-
thertaft but that of blood. And befifles, ha-
ting amply verified, that the yellow liquor
comes from the Salival glanduls albne, and
having given a very exaft defeription of
them; I think itneedlefsto fay any more of
it, what ever the Antients may have written,
or the Moderns may fay of that fubjeft.

To

J ^ ( 79 )

] To come now te -the enraged Spirits of a
1 iper, which I do allure to be the true and
nly feat of the poifon ; methinks Sign. Redd
<ath noreafon tooppofemy opinion, when
ido interefsin it the imagination of theVi-
)er, or her Idea ofrevenge,for the formation
f thofe Spirits. Imighthere alledge whan
id ran Helmut faith in his Chapt. De 'tumult
?efiis , viz. That not only the Idea and the I-
lagination of terror are formed in the inward
in drchetH of the perfon invaded by the Plague;
jii iut that the Toad, which hath, as he faith , a
ns ierpetual hatred againft man, finding him-
ml “If taken,and hanged by one of his hind-legs¥
m ndin a condition of dying, conceives an
it dea and an imagination of terror by the
It ight of the man, that often prefents himfelf
efore his eyes, and whom he looks upon as
iis capital enemy, and that the fame Idea or
hefamephancy of terror, which the Toad
ath conceived by this means, forms in him
j. uchimpreHions and qualities, asareperma-
. ient even af er his death. Then this Author
will, that of this body, that dyed in thofe /-
leas of terror, mingled with the parts that
lave iffued thence, and with the wax that
hall have received them, you fhall makeTro-
ihefque’s, which being taken inwardly, and
:arried about you, or applied, fhall have the

virtue

( 8 o V)

virtue of curing as well ai, prefer ving fron
the Plague, by mortifying by their Speci-
fique quality the terror wftfe^h the inward^.
cheus of the perfon may have conceived a
this evil. Now fince this Sentiment of Vai'
Hdmont hath found place in the minds of ma!
ny men, yery capable to judge of it ; wh<
have been thence induced even to make ex
a&ly that preparation of Toads, which hi
hath taught in the fame Chapter, and which .
can allure I have my felf made to fatisfie thi
delire of very able Phyfitians ; having alft
known many perfons giving great credit t<!
it, and carrying continually about, them o1
thole Trochefques whi lft there was talk o
the Plague* methinks, that the formation o
the enraged fpirits, which I afcribe to th<
Idea and imagination of revenge, conceives
by the Viper when fhe is vexed, is incompa
rably more maintainable, and much eafiert<
be comprehended, as well as the entry of thi
angred Spirits through the Openings mad
by the Teeth; becaufe not only thefe Aper
tures are wont to be deep, but alfo becauf
the teeth being hollow, ferve for a Funnel t<
intromit thofe fpirits, that accompany th*
biting, and that produce afterwards in th1
body bitten thofe difmal efFedfs of vengeance
which the Viper had conceived when IN

fel

:.U-/ (Si)

It the ill done her//: And the letting in of
iOfe Spirits through the cavity of thofe
eth is fo much tip more eafie, becaufe there
alfo at the end'd* each great tooth a hole*
Inch, though very fmall and almoft undif-
rnable by the eye, may yet be difcerned by
Microfcope, &: hath accordingly been la te-
feen in fome publick Aflemblies at j ?aris9
. the prefence even of perfons very affedti-
late to Sign. Redz.

What fhall we fay of the imagination of
right and Conftraint, that a Toad alfo im«
:elfes in a Wecfel , which having feen and
?en feen by that ugly animal, at a certain
afon of the year ,and always in fummer ,can
)t avoyd to run a pretty while round about
making a continual Thrill noyfe,as ifihecri-
1 for help, whilft the Toad remains move-
fswith his throat open ; and which aftera
mg troublefome motion is conftrain’d to
)nie and render her felf into that throat,
'he thing is too well known in divers places
P France to doubt of it ; and I can alfure to
ive heretofore feen it my felf ; and that af-
*r I had wrell obferv’d and withal wondred
: the force of thofe Ideas, appearing in the a-
itation of the Weefel, and in her being con-
rained to fall into the mouth of the Toad,

F I

(82 )

I bad the fatisfa&ion td kill the Toad i
that moment, and fo to fave the Weefe
which quickly run away Ending her felfdi
liver’d by the death of theanimal, which vwi
followed by the extin&ion of ihofe Ideas, th;
before had had fo much power over her. Th
effed cannot be adfcribed to the foam , n<
to any material part of the Toad, fince t!
Weefel flyes from him naturally, and falls n
into his mouth but in fpight of her teeth. B
fides that the foam of the Toad, which t
W eefel failed not to meet with in his throa
can work nothing, feeing the Weefel fav<
her felf immediately after the death of the
nimak We therefore mull needs feek f
the caufe of all thefe effeds in the Sj
rits.

More-over, what will Sign. Redi fay
a mad dog, which, in the pervertion of ;|
his fenfes andofall the ordinary fundic
ofhis body, breaths after nothing but m
chief, and makes it his bufinefs to redu
into the fame miferable condition all m|
he fees, and even his own mailer, as w ell
all animals he can come near and bite ?
then the mad Dog hath the power to ma
pafs the fame Ideas and the fame imaginatic
which have feized on him, into all the cr.

tui

' Qi)

•es that he can come to bite, and into man
nfelf, though of a very different foul and
: :ure from his, hypoing no more than with
iedge of his teeth to touch the fuperfice of
e skin, and that through his cloathstnat
y retain and wipe off all thefoam,adhering
i) the teeth, and lyable to be accufed of ha-
t ng a hand in the mifchief ; as is very well
fferv’d by Van Helmont in’ the fame Chap*

: ? If, I fay, this dog hath the power of
ti mmunicatinghis evil to all forts of animals,
«i)m one to another, without a limit, and
ivi thout excepting any kind ; Why fnou d he
ie ink it incredible, that a Viper is able bv
i r biting to carry her enraged fpirits into
Sjebodiesof fuch men and other animals as
e can light upon ; T hat thefe fpirits are
pabletokill the animal bitten ; and that
i;ey effe<ft this by the perturbation and cor-
;i( ption, they introduce into the whole tnafs
i r blood ; forafmuch as they do manifeftly
111 nder its circulation, and the communicati'-
11 1 of the natural fpirits, that were wont to
11 e conveyed into all the parts ? Confidering
1 ithal, that they do not extend themfelves as
m r as thofe of the bite of a mad Dog ; feeing
a one of the Animals bitten by a Viper, have
tuny venom diffufible either by their biting,
HI F 2 of

or otherwife, as long as they live, and tha
they may befafely handled, and even witi:
out danger eaten after the'u death.

I fay befides, that if it be true, that a ma*!
who hath at all times the fame fpitle and tf
fame teeth, & who hath them not pointed nc
fhapedlikethofeof a Viper, is capable t
introduce the Gangrene, and to caufe deat
it felf by a bite made by him in a rage; when!
as another and longer bite, made by the fan
man not enraged, is not accompanied wit;
any ill accident, and is healed like a limp ;
wound ; This being true, I fay, we ought t|j
think it neither ftrange nor impoflible, thj
a Viper, which hath long and piercing teet ,j
and which fiiews the force of her being ve:|
edby the nimblenefs of her biting, fhoul
be able, by biting when enraged, tomal
animals feel the mortal effects of her vexej
fpirits.

What fliall we fay of the pricking of a 2i
rantula. how flight foever ? fliall we declare i
to be exempt from the idea and imaginatic
of this little animal, fince it impreffes itij
ftrongly and differently upon perfons th;
have been pricked therewith, infomuch thi
h perverts in part the fenfes and fpirit
conforms them to his ftirring and skippii

natur,

- , C 85 )

iture* and constrains them at certain and
,*t times to continual dancing for feveral
ays, and whichjaving left a contumacious
aven of the fame idea's, faileth not to pro-
uce the fame effefts every year, and, if you
ay believe Authors, as long as the Tarantula
*veth, and until the fame idea’s be extinft by
s death. And though I doubt not but
rat Sign. Redi hath feen very many examples
fperfons pricked by Tarantulas , there be*
iig Roreof them in Italy, yet I fhall not for-
mat here to recite that of a Neapolitan Soul-
ier, who hath been the fe four years among
\e French infantry. This Souldier, whom
is Camarads call’d Tarante, becaufe he had
"een pricked by a Tarantula , is Rill to this
bry day in the Royal Regiment of Roujfillon.
lie never failed to feel every year at a deter-
linate time (viz. about the 24 th of July')
re efFe&s of t hat Ring, which he had receiv’d
efore he came into France. He was always
ate of the time about two or three days near
t. And when the ideas of the Ring were
ound exalted to a degree capable to pro-
luce their effects, he began to dance , and
lelired to hear without interruption the Vio-
lins, which the Officers of that Regiment call-
ed to be play’d for him out of charity ; to

F 3 which

!■

C 86 ) . i

which he anfwer’d continpally, keeping tin'
very well, without being tired, for thr< 1
days, eating and drinkin^yithout interruj
tion of his dance ; and being very impatisi!
ofany difcontinuance of the play of the Vi<
lins, and that the more, if the intermiffu
was any thing long ; for then he became alti!
gether livid, and fell into grievous fwoun<
ings. He pleafed himfelfwhilft he dance
to have in his hands feveral naked fword
one afer another ; to fee about him mai
Looking'glafTes, to behold himfelf in the
dancing; to be environed with much peopl
and, that he might hinder them from goi)
away, to take from them their Gloves, Ri
tons, and fuch other things; being very car
ful to keep all he had ra ken from themun
the fourth day, which being come, his e
gernefs to dance abated, and at length qui
ceafed ; he remembr ingall he had done, ai
knowing al 1 that were about him,- to eve.!
one of whom he rendred very exactly ar
without any miftake all he had taken frc
-them, though he had to do with a thoufai
people. After which time, he pafs’d the r
mainder of that year, and the whole intern
- of his Paroxv fines witl out any inclinatii
to dance. He was naturally melancholic

C 37 )

appearance ofrto great parts, neither had
: learn’d to c!ance?\ He hath been Teen thus
mcing every year thoufancls of people,
r, id particularly*^ the Camp Royal Anno
jfo. where the King himfelfand the whole
: ourtfaw him. And this hath been fo be-
M facial to him, that the ordinary time is pa ll
r is year without any affault of this evil,
.f hich he had great apprehenfions of, finding
. mfelf at that time engaged in a march,
..id fearing he fihould want Violins at the
d me that the fit fhould take him.

1 Now fince the pricking of this Animal,
j lough very fmall, and in a manner like that
r, : a fmall fly, beipg made even thorough
... ockings or cloaths, is able to aft equally
, pon the body and the mind of the peifon
. ung ; as leaving behind fuch long and
, rong imprefiions, and caufing fuch irkfome
. ?turns ; To what can we adfcnbe all thofe
1 ifferent effefts, ifitbenot to the idea, or i-
’ agination of the animal flinging, or of the
erfon flung. ’Tis needlefs , to alledge
ere the effefts of the idea or imagination of
/omen with Child, nor of that of Jacob's
heep. I think f have faid enough to jufti-
ie the poffibility of the idea or imaginati-
on of a Vipers revengeful neff, for the for-

F 4 ming

C SS )

. * V v

Suing or angry Spirits, fyfficient to imput
unto them all the venom, and to exclude froi
it the yellow liquor. \

After this, Sign. Redi mud not- wond«i
if I, who make profedion of Chymidry, (c
which I have the honour to read publick Lc
tlures in the Garden Royal ) who doe ever
day exercife my felfin Separating the fpiri
tuous parts from the grofsones in mixt ins
nimat bodies ; and who have not been abl
to find in any corporeal and fenfible matte
the true caufe of the drangeand fuddainprc
dudions? obferved in the biting of a liv
Viper ; If I, after all this, 1 fay, have though
my felf obliged tofeek for it in the Spirits
if having found it there, I have abandon’
his party, and communicated to the public
the difcovery I have made.

Yet I am not over-much furprifed, tha
Sign, Redi, being in this matter prepoffefsi
by corporeal grofs things, dill perddsin h:
Sentiment, fince in the preparations, that d
altogether depend of my profedion, an
which I ought to know well, he rejeds fp
rituous fubdances, which he relifhes no
Tricking only to the more material, whic
are the lead, and in very final 1 quantity
which doth not keep him from believin

thei

J'%*

them to be the befr. You may fee, whaj: he
i writeth of it about the end of pag, 76,
and at the beginning of fag, 77, of his
'* fKf^of Observations , in thefe

words.

In quefie nue natnrali OJJervafioni ho coh-
fumato gran quaniitu, &c. That is, In thefe my
X natural Obfervations I have (pent a great

> quantity of Vipers, making of them daily a ve-
I ry great fl aught er ; and , to extract the fubtile
from the fubtil (if I may fo jpeak') I always laid
' afide and kept all their flejh and bones , which

being dryed in a Furnace , and afterwards by a
quick fire with long and great labour burnt and
; reduced to ajhes , I thence drew the Salt with
Fountain-water , and purified it, and reduced
it into a kind of Chryfial, See.

Thofe chat know all the parts of which
the body of a Viper iscompofed, will cer-
tainly wonder, that a perfon fo judicious
and knowing hath not found, that the chief

► and beft part of a Viper confifts in its vola-
I til Salt, and that that Salt would not fail to
, avolate and to be wafted by that preparation
1 or rather deftru&ion, which Sign. Kedi hath

ufed to extra# the Salt of Vipers. They will
quickly fee, that when he would draw the
fubtil from the fubtil ( as he fpea'ks ) he did

quite

C 90 )

quite the contrary, and excelled and diffi-
pated the volatil and better parts, re-
turning only the grofs,the fixed and the leaft,
They will foon judg, that he inoui4^nqthave
given hitnfelf all that labour and pain, whicn
he faith he hath taken, to fucceed fo ill in his
work ; and that he had done much better,
withfilencetopafsoverhisprocefs, then to
publifh it. The way , by him taken, will
be found, I think, received from the An-
tients, who knew not , that all Animals a-
bound in Volatil , and have little of Fixed
Salt : And his preparation, which is very
eafie , would have pleafed better in thofe
times, efpecially in Italy', then that great and
laborious Preparation of the Salt of Vipers,
which was made with fo great an apparatus,
and of which I have already given my
thoughts, when I difcourfed of the Remedies
drawn from Vipers.

I al fo forefee, that Sign. Redi will not re-
ceive any greater advantage by ftriving to at-
tribute to himfelf the firfb difcoveryqf the
Salival glanduls , which I found on both the
Temples of both Male and Female Vipers,
and which I have defer i bed and delineated
in my Anatomy of Vipers; For, he will not
be able to perfwade it to thofe, who (hall

C 9* )

ee pag. 44. of his firft Letter of Observations
he difcourfe following ;

Se non JlmaJfi '^vergogm fcriver Jenzx al-
• jrjpxn That is. If l did not think
t a fhame, to write, without other proof what
I tine into my phancy , i might fay perhaps, that
that yellow liquor is by no other way intromit -
■ed into the above faid gums of the teeth but by
thofe Salival Conduits, found out by the fa-
mous Thomas Wharton, and fhewn in this
Court by Lorenzo Billini, a learned young man
'■ and of great expectation, in other „ Animals be -
:i] j ides Man , and particularly in Staggs , and
Mood-peckers : Moreover that under thofe
D( Gums there are two J, mall Glandnls , found by
’>i me in all Vipers. Tet I would not have you
rely upon this thought of mine , becaufe it may
prove a Chimera , as I believe it to be one ,
&c.

I cannot comprehend, how Sign- Redi,
after he hath fppken of the Salival Conduits
as of a thing that came into his phancy, and
by a perhaps , that is to fay, not knowing it ;
and who aeclareth, that lie was afham’d to
write of a thing without verifying it ; who
exhorts his friend to whom he writes, not to
' relye on his thoughts, and who adds, that it
may prove a Chimera; I know not, ] fay,

C 92 )/

how, after he -kath written all this, he car
pretend to be the inventor of the Salivm \
Glanduls and their Pipes : Tor pag. 5 5 and1
56.ofhisfirft Letter fpea king o ftf^yd lqrtl
liquor, he adds,

E queflo veleno altro non e, &c. That is,
"Thu •venom is nothing elfe but that liquor, which
burned s the Palat, and Jl agnates inthofe gums
that invefl the teeth , not transmitted thither
from the Bladder of Gall , but bred in the
whole head , and conveyed perhaps to thi
gums by fome Salival conduits, which perhaps
are there infer ted.

Where the word perhaps, yet twice again
repeated, doth fufficiently fliew, that Sign.
Redi did fpeak of the Salival conduits no o-
therwife than as ofa thing he was not at all
allured of. And though he may fay, that he
hath had thoughts of it fooner than I, (who
have not medled with Vipers but fome years I
after his firft Letter,) that what he had'
written of it gave me from that timeoccafi-
on and a defire to feek for thofe Pipes and
the Glanduls that might convey thither the
yellow liquor *, that the belief, he had of the
Generation of this juyceinthe w'hole head,
induced me to fearch for theSalival Glanduls
higher and farther off than the place under the

bottom

( 93 )

xjttom of the vV>ficles ; and that I doubt
lot, that himfelfWht have found thefe
li:rue Glanduls, if vi'ould have taken pains

^ - W^frfthaL fince he hath not done
[t. he ought not to be offended at my having
labour’d for him, andfueceeded in fo doing :
Neither hath he any right to deny, that I
have ftrft found, defcribed, and to the life
reprefented the two heaps of Salival Glan-
dulsofa Viper with all their Veflels, as well
for forming, as conveying the yellow li-
quor into the Veficles that cover the great
teeth.

As to what Sign. Redi faith of me, fpeak-
lingofthe Authors of my Book, that I have
changed the words, under the bottom, into
: thofc, at the bottom of the veficles of the gums,
and there fought in vain for the two fmall
Glanduls, which he allures to have found
there in all Vipers .* I anfwer, that whilft he
is critical as to the letter of the words, 1
keep to the truth of the matter of fad: .* And I
can allure, to have fearched with much care?

, not only in the wrhole bottom of the veficles,
but every where under the bottom of them,
but have not found any, whether great or
fmall G landuls, nor any thing of the colour
ofa Glandul, nor that came any way near to
their form-

( 94 )

I put it then for a truth, /that there is hot
to be found any Glandul neither in nor under
the bottom of the veficles,* apd that under the
bottom there is nothing but/,
that gives the fhape to the nofeofa Viper ;
the two fharp ends of the two advanced
bones of the skull, to which the two great
teeth are firmly annexed ; the conduit of the
fin ell, that of the hearing ; fome final 1 vein,
fome little Artery, fome little Nerve, the
extremity of a Mufcle, and the two ends of
the Salival Channels that difcharge into the
veficles ; as you may fee it in a manner de-
fcribed in the Anatomy made of it by
me.

After this, Signor Redi himfelf fhews;
that it was impoffible, there lhould be Gian*
duls under the bottom of the veficles, fincehe
faith, pag. 3S. of his laft Letter.

Ne io pot ev a mai fcrivere , &c. that is, Nor j
could 1 at all write, that thofe Glandul slay in
the bottom of the 'veficles , if I was of opinion ,
that the yellow liquor did run into them after it
had paffed through the Salival conduits , which
yet 1 imagined might have their Origin from or
connexion with thofe two GUndnls feen by me,
and therefore muf needs be in a feituation a \
little diftant from the veficles, and not in the !
bottom of them.

For

ellow jnyce toolcw its courfe thorough the
ialiva! conduits before its coining into the
« • ^fft^nnor find a way long enough,

or a di fiance great enough, for the need of
ong conduits, from the place under t\\ebot-
om unto that which is in the bottom of the
[f: veficles : For, there would have needed no-
hing but a little opening in the fame bottom,
o receive the juyce ilfuing out of the two
i ittle Glanduls he hath fpoken of. And he
: fihews fufficiently, that he cannot maintain
thofe two fmall Glanduls under the bottom,
where he would have them to be,fince now he
will needs have them a little diftant from the
veficles, that he may find, in the interval!, a
fpace fufficient for the veffels that are necef-
fary to the courfe of this yellow liquor* Be-
fides, that it is altogether impoffible for two
fmall Glanduls to furnifh all that yellow li-
quor, which prefents it felf in the veficles ;
fince the two great heaps by me found in the
two Temples and behind the Orbits of the
eyes of a Viper, can hardly furnifh each a-
boutadrop in the fpace of 24 hours, after
the veficles have been well voided. More-
over, it. is very eafie to judge by what Sign.
J&cdi faith in'hisTnrft Letter, that he under-
ftood not, the falival Glands were feared, as

they

( 96 )

they are, on the two Temple nor To near the
skull ;fince he faith, that/what came into his
phancy, was, that the heaflof a Viper did hot
convey that yellow ) uy ce b&v ^ ^tjftain fali-
val conduits. For ifhe had been oFanotBer'l
mind, he would not have fpoken but of glands;
or, at leaft, he would have begun with them
before he had fpoken of the conduits, which
fhews alfo fufficiently, that by this means he
hath as ’twere inverted the order of nature :
For, inftead of placing the Glands clofe to
the skul, and afterwards the falival conduits; !
he hath begun with thefe, and would have
them immediately to receive the juyce of the
Brain, and to carry them to the veficles of the
gums ; and that his two pretended glanduls
are feated between the extremity of thefe
conduits, and the bottom of the veficles ;
though none be there, and it would be altoge-
ther ufelefs, they fhould be there, becaufe
there are none but they that can at the begin-
ning fuck&digeft the humidities of the brain
and the neighbouring parts, and fend them
into the veficles of the gums by the conduits
appointed for this office.

But when Sign. Redi accufes meof having
taken the bottom of the veficles for that
which is under the bottom of them, and e.t.
not having rightly underflood, as he fpeaks,

hath

(.97)

the Tofian tongtV ; I may fay, that himfelf
hath not very w eKj apprehended, nor duly
[explained the French terms, ufed by me ;
firir'v u~&fcfefTtlietrnd of pag. 35. and at the
beginning ofp. 3 6. of the fame laft letter,
Sovra de chi gli , Autori delle novelle expert
encc ajfermano, Sec. That is. Whereupon the
Authors of the New Experiments do affirm,
that they could never fee fuch Glanduls as I
ihad named ; but that inllead of them they had
found two others, which they call Salival,
thus by them defcribed, p . 3 7 .

For neither in all that he hath afterwards
taken the pains to tranfcribe out of my book
On that fub jeft, nor in al 1 the reft of my Secti-
on upon the Salival Glanduls, he can have
read, that I fay to have found two GUnduls ,
but, GUnduls ; there being a great difference
in good French, between Deux Glxndes , and
■ Ves GUndes , two Glands, and, Glands. And
when, defcribing the Glanduls, I fay, that
they are featedon the two ftdes of the Cra -
nium , I fay afterwards, that there are many
(mall ones joyned together, which may be
call’d Conglomerate Glanduls • And yet more
[ fpeak of an Heap of Glanduls ; fo far am I
from fpeaking only of one or two Gjanduls,as
Redi hath reprefented me to have done.
And fince, in hopes of better maintaining

G his

( 9§ )

bis caufe, he hath given bi^felf the trouble
of copying word for worcfcpn his laft Letter^ !
only the moft general placetofppy Book, and
that which was the leaft contraf^d^c^siaije-,
Section of the Sali val Glands. To ffiew there-
fore on my part, that the Glands, found by
me, are very different, and that even they are
quite another thing, than the two fmall ones
fpoken of by him ; I thought my felf obli-
ged to tranfcribe hither out of my book
what he thought not neceffary for him. For
in the fame Section,?. 30. (in the Englifh ver«
fion,y. 33) Ifpeakthus ofthe falival Glands.

thefe Glands are found in all the heads of Vi-
pers, both Males and Females ; they are feated
on both Jides , and joining to the skull , in the
hind-part of each round of the eyes , and at the\
fame height with them, "there are many fmall
ones joined together, which may be call'd Con-
glomerate Glands, that are eafily diflinguifha-
ble by their form and colour, which is different
from the Mufcles, neighbouring to them , and oj
which there is one ,t hat may be calldT emporal.
which in part covers them by its extremity
this heap of Glands appears there of the bignef
ofthe neighbouring eye, and extending it felj
in length, continues its progrefs in the Orbit
of the eye, below and in part behind the fye
Each Gland hath its little Lymphatiyue vejfel

I- . v ' C 99 )

hich parts from it /hyfrom a little Teat, am
i'i dijgorging it felfj into a greater veffel, that
'■nsall alon^^c&nder thefe Glands, and pa f
thTmrTide Veficle of the Gum, and le> minates
the midfl of the Articulation, which the root
the great teeth makes with the advancing cor-
r of the [aid Or kite, and with the little Bone,

' b ich by its other end is articulated in the mid -
? of the upper jaw. This principal veffel, which
ing conjider d alone, is very little in appear -
ce, but is not fo in effcl, feeing if receives the
ft charge of all the frnall veffels that come from
:h Gland , empties it felf into the bag of the
ins, and carries thither that Salival jtiyce ,
rich may have qualities approaching to thofe
the Saliva or Spitle of man , or of the foam or
ivel of divers other Animals.

The Nerve, which ferves in the Noflrils
the faculty of Hearing, runs for fome
'■ce along thefe Glands , which are alfo , as
have already faid , fmall Veins and Arte -

L

f S.

lut having well confide Vd the fubfiance , qua-
7 & frit nation of thefe G 1 andsyve judged their
'mat ion not to be in vain \ but that their
^ , in all likelyhood , was , to receive the
aridities both of the Brain, the Byes , and
e neighbouring parts ; and that their dif-
Arge was very convenient , and even very
C 2 necejfary

C 10 0 )

neceffary to the parts, \rhi4i receive that li-
quor ; as vo ell for moiffning the ligamcm
of the great teeth , anoft^keep them in a
condition of bending at fucf^f^‘^sd!A-:.yht.
1 iper will bite , as for bedewing^ and increi-
fing the teeth , which feature hath formed am
fet in the midjl of this Juice.

For the ref , examining and tofling tkt
Glands as wed as the Juice , we found <
tafte altogether like that of the Gamsyvhici
Sign. Redi hath defcribed ; namely , ver
near the tafle of the Oyle of Almonds , with
out ad bitterncfs , though it leave , a whil
after , a little acrimony in the mouth , fuci
as may be difcernd in ad kind of Spi
tie.

I could add here > what I faid of th
Salival Glands of Snakes , their difFerenc
from thofe of Vipers ; and I could a:
ledge, that I believe my lelf to be like
wife the tirft Difcoverer of them. Bt
becaufe fo prolix a Citation might prov
tedious, and that thofe that defire to hav
more light therein, may eafily find the rei
in the above-cited Section of my Eook,
fhall not tranferibe it hither.

Mean time tis very eafie to judge fro.i
my whole Difcourfe, and from the -.rvcdi
refeription , made by me, of thefe Gland.

ncl their neighboring parts, that they
ere net known tujmc by Pbancy. Their
donation very d^anc from that place
from the fides of, the
ottom of the vehicles of the gums , fiievvs
ifficienrly, that they are neither in nor
nder the bottom of thofe vehicles, asSign,
[edi hath pretended ; and their great
lumber makes it appear , that ’tis quite a-
other thing, than the two litle Glanduls
e hpeaks of, and which are not to be found
either.

I intreat the Reader, well to confider
tohe I have difeover’d , as they are re-
>rehented in my third Cutty as well in that
art where the Temples are of a Head cut,
lark’d C, (where their fhape and heitua-
ion is reprehented to the life, as they
lew themfelves before they are fever’d • )
s in the inclohure of a Vipers fee'eton,
;hich is there alfo exhibited ; where he
lay fee them in their upper and lower
ppearance, drawn out of the Head , and
y their ligaments fa fined to the hind-part
'f the Eyes, and to the body of the Brain,
came not to the full knowledge of them
M after much pains, and a very long and
?arfieular hearch. I did not content my
If to feek a great while in the bottom,

G 3 and

( IO20

snd under the bottom. of the vehicles e|
the gums ; but, to Enfc- thefe Glands,! haw
dead and differed a g-eat number of/Vii
pers heads, as dextrou'iiy^p^nipel v as l
could ; and I have ufed all means welf t<|
examine them; among others, I caufed mat
ny heads to be gently boyled in a littlf
water , as well to confider the divers ful
tures of the skull , and to feparate all thf
parts from it; as to remark well the fonf
and the connexion of thefe Glands, to dravl
them out whole, and joined, as they are!
to the Eyes, and to divers bodies of th
Brain, to which the marrow of the Spin!
is annex'd; and to have all thefe parts en
tire, and. fuch as I have caufed them to b
engraven.

Me thinks, that all thefe cares, follow’*1
by fo good fnccefs , may well deferve, try
Difcovery of this great number of Saliva
Glands with all their veffels , diould no!
be envied me by Sign. Reds ; confident
I dofufficicntly appear to him incapable o
envving him any of thofe fine things, he
hath already found, or may find hereafter ir
his curious re-fearches.

There remains no more for me to do, me
thinks , than to fatisfie Sign. Reds as
concerning the Uncertainty, wherein he h

touching

ouching the Vo^er the Volatil Salt of
Pipers for the cumlg of their bitings ; as
.bout the ObjeftioiJ, by him made again ft
ny Experjjj?|mtg-^f the Head and Neck of
f i Vfp^for curing Doggs bitten by it, and
vhich I havealfo thought fhould be effica-
m :ious to cure men in the like cafe.

! He oppofes nothing to the Vertue of this
/olatil Salt , but that he remits the Reader
o the time he will take , Chymically to
orepare this Salt, and to make the Expe-
'iment therewith. But he faith, that he
lath made many tryals with the Heads and
Sleeks of Vipers, and found firft ; That,
laving made two great Doggs aforehanc to
wallow, each the head and neck of a Vi-
aer, and, afterwards caufed both of them
, o be bitten by other Vipers, thofe Doggs
dyed not: And that, having caufed to be
bitten two other Doggs of the fame big-
lefs, that had eaten neither head nor neck
)f a Viper, they dyed neither. He faith
anther, that having made a Pullet to f wal-
low one head of a Viper, and a Capon two,
and caufed them to be bitten, they both dy-
;d foon after. He adds , that having the
next day made ready fome heads of Vipers,
tk caufed them to be forc’d down the throat
of two little Doggs , of which he caufed

G 4 the

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the leafl to be bittenpn /he legg near th6 |[
anus, and the other , pt the tongue , an<x
that they both dyed xghat he made the
fame Experiment upon ^ffc-^-iJet.s. two
Kitlings, two fmall Rabbets , and fix Pige-
ons, even with rubbing the place bitten
with the blood of the Viper; That alfo
the fix Pigeons were bitten by the heads of
Vipers, dead feveral dayes before, and that
all thefe animals dyed; That laftly, he had
fed two Pigeons for three dayes with the
flefh and broath of Vipers, and being bit-
ten thereupon, they dyed likewife, this aid
notwifhftanding.

ForAnfwer to all thefe Experiments, I
make ufe of the fame Generals , that Sign.
Reds hath done againft mine, which are to
be found fag. 1 6. of his laft Letter ; where
he Paith : 7hat a Viper more eafily kills lef-
fer Animals by his biting, than great ones;
that, according to the bignefs of the Ani-
mal bitten, and according as the place
wounded is more or lefs provided with
veins or arteries ; that, if from the wound
of a Viper much blood iffueth, the Ani-
mal not only dyeth not, but does not fo
much as feel any great inconvenience ; thatj
it alfo falls out fometimes, that the Animal
bitten elcapeth, after it hath endured ma-
ny

C >°$ )

ivy yrortal fyritotoyhs ; and that this may
come to pafs by qj(J foie afliftance of Nature.

As to the two cjther Generals , which he
alledgeth^gx^fer^hce to the letting in of the
* yeTfqw dkjuor ; I did not think fit to alledge
them here, both be.caufe I agree not as to the
pofiibility of the fatt, and that I have elfe-
i where declared my felf fufficiently about it;
as alfo that they make not to this purpofe.
But I think it more material , to add here

I two other Generals to thofe of Sign. Red?,
and to fay: That the biting is more or lefs
noxious , not only according to the place
bitten, but according to the degree of the
Vipers being vexed when fhe is to bite, and
according as her teeth have more or lefs pe-
netrated. And reafoning particularly upon
thefe experiments, I fay, that the dogs which
I had caufed to be bitten every one thrice, &
were cured by making each of them fwallow
the head and neck of a Viper, were of a very
midling fize, that it is very difficult to found
a certainjudgtnent upon the great ones,which
Sign. Red? hath ufed, as ’t is alfo, to pafs it
upon them that had fwal low’d the head and
neck of a Viper, and thofe, that had not done
fo, that all the other little animals, which he
employed, as well the Pullet and the Capon,
as the Pigeons, Catlings, Puppies, and little

Rabbet^

( ifo 6 ) 1

Rabbets, had not of th.emfejves ftrengdh e^.j
nough to refid for a timeTh.'j enraged fpirits,^
nor to find the effed of th& remedy ; efpeeial-
ly that which was bitten hT^^OQg^ie. For, I ;
firmly believe, that there is no animal', '’great
or final, which being fiercely bit in the tongue
by a Viper well vexed, can avoid death, what
aid foever you minifter to it, becaufe of the j
nerves, veins & arteries, diffeminated through
the tongue;and becaufe that the angred fpirits
finding a free entrance, produce there all the
effed they are capable of, with fo much vio-
lence and nimbi enefs, that nothing is able to j
Hop them. But in all curable bites I fihall not
eafily be induced to renounce the help, which
may be given by the head, neck, heart, liver,
and divers other parts of a Viper (efpecially
of her that made the bite) for the cure of the
animals that have fufficient ftrength to refill: a
while, and to exped the benefit of this kind
of remedy. I believe alfo to have great caufe
not to exclude from it man himfelf; as alfo to
prefer the parts of the fame Viper that hath
bitten, to thofeofothers j becaufe they muff
needs have greater cognation and more con-
fent with the vexed fpirits, that iffued from
her. Concerning which I think it not amifs,to
impart to the publickan accident that hapn’d,.
in the Royal Laboratory of this City, white
my laft experiments were making, A

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A you ng man t l^at bid made a good progrefs
in his ftudies, derrbus to perfect himfelf in
both ways of Pharmacy, and chiefly addi&ed
to my cc^^^chymifliry, was near me, in
tBeqffiii.gf a great Aflembly,on the id day of
my experiments. After I had made Pome, whilft
I was entertaining the company, the fancy
took him, in imitation of me, yet without my
knowledge, to take a Viper with his hand, and
to feize on her head : which he did not with
that caution that is neceflary, as not holding
her fo fall but that theViper took her oppor-
tunity, and ftruck one of her great teeth very-
deep into the middle of the upper part of his
left fore-finger .Having been made acquainted
therewith, I remov’d, as much as I could., all
fear from hisfpirit,and aavifed him to betake
himfelf to the neceflary remedies. The credit
he gave to the truths contain’d in my book, of-
ten read by him, induced him to fay, that if I
thought well of it, he would eat the head and
neck of the Viper that had bit him. Com-
mending his courage, I feconded his good in-
clinations ; for, I caufed (lightly to be broil-
ed on coals the head and neck of the faid vi-
per, and made him eat and fwallow it hot, in
the midfl of the company, adding to it the
heart and liver broiled likewife. After which
I faid, I doubted not but what he had done
would be fufneient to cure him ; yet to be the

Purer

C 108 )

fnrer,I would give him Itoe/rolatil fait of vi-
pers, efpecially he being alberfon whom I did
much efteem, and for whol^health I had and
ever fhould haue a great corfeB^Tfe&r^KjQ^ k
immediately gave him a dofe of fifqngrgkiS of •
this volatil fait, dilfolved in four ounces of
water, and allured him there was not any dan-
ger after this.The young man remained in the
midft of the company, & ftirr’d not from the
place, till the meeting ended,and then he took
a little frefh air. He was afterwards a couple j
of hours in the Royal Garden and the Labora- *
toryjduring which time he now & then found |
fome little ficknefs about his heart; but being
come to his own lodging, he was ready to fup
as he was ufed to do, and. would have done it,
if I had not thought it better for him to take
another dofe of the fame volatil falt,which had
fo good effect, that the next day, after he had
dined well, became again to our meeting ;
which did much furprifeall thofe that had
been witnefTes of the bite. Since that time he
hath ever been very well. Now though his
wound appear’d much deeper then that of the
German gentleman, that was bitten the i Ji day
of my former experiments ; yet had he none
of thofe grievous accidents, that befell him, &
were by me defcribed in my book: for he bad*
no other pain but that of the hole of the bite,
nor had he fo much as a Fever. The wound

only

* , ( ro9 )

only rendred fom^ drops of blood, by mean?
of the ligature, I caus’d to be made on the top
of his wounded finger, which did never fwell,

Plbgalld'-up aTif it had been 1n3.de by the
okcif&pin, without any Cicatrice appear-
ing ; fo far was it from a Gangrene, or Scar, a?
fome fancied he would have.

The thing hath been too pubiick,not to be
credited every where; and I think not, that
Sign.-Rrw himfeifwill doubt of it; but rather
that all things have concurr’d together to ve-
rifie all I had advanced in my book, of which
he hath contefred fome particulars, and could
not refolve himfelf about others. However,
if he have by him any remedies, more quick
and more fure for the cure of the bites of Vi-
pers,the publick will be much oblig’d to him
when he fhall pleafe to impart them, as I very
willingly communicate thefe I have experi-
mented. I iLall not fpeak here of divers Ex-
periments lately made upon Vipers by very
able perfons at Far is. which confirm not on-
ly the perfed innocence of the jellow liquor
that is in the veficles of the Gums, but which
warrant at the fame time my adfcribing the
venom to the enraged fpirits. Thefe truths
will be better received from their hands, and
they will be much more advantagious to me,
than if I did attempt to publilh them row.
For doubtlefs there will he found in them ve-

C Iio ) o

ry curious things, and thtpyire like to be oil
more importance than wmt I might be ablel
to fay of them. Beiides tha^Jam far from u»
furping the honor due to others, and fps^ratH
tributing to me the obligation, 'tfhidi the
publick will owe them for it* I

Fora conclusion of this difcourfe ; ftnce
Sign* Redi hath not found in the whole body i
ofa Viper any other part but the jel low juice I
to which he can aflign its venom ; fence on my
f<irt by the new experiments, he hath defir ’d
of me, I have Sufficiently jullified the inno-
cence of the jellow liquor in the Vipers of
France, and the great conformities, there muft
needs be in the fame with that ofthe Vipers
of Italy, afierting withal the venomonfnefs of
the angred Spirits caufing the death that enfu-
eth the bite ; and fence laftly the Vipers of
France do kill as foon and in the fame manner
as thofe of Italy do, and even without any in-
tervention of the jellow liquor : Thefe
things being fo, I efteem, that Sign. Redi
would do very Well, if, to fatisfie on his fart
the expectation ofthe publick, and without
adhering any longer to the jellow liquor,
which is fo reafonably contefted, he would
take the pains to labour to find out fome new
fubjed, that might be common to the Vipers
of France and thofe of J taly ; that might have
the fame difpolition of matter, and the fame

power

( 1 1 1 )

Dwer ©fading nimbly ;and that might withrea*

,n be equally declared the true feat of their ve~

>m to the end that afterwards he might as ju«
ly exckdeTrom it the enraged fprrits, as I now
cclud^ fi'vJai it the jellow liquor. But if on the
xitrary it comes to pafs* that he can find none
:her, 1 believe not, that for the future he hath
iy ground to maintain his opinion, no more
ban to conteftmine.

! Concluding this differ ration I fhall fay, that
he contrariety of opinions, which is between
iign. Redi and me, in the moft effential -things
)f the Vipers poifon, may alfo be obferved up-
)n another account about the fame animal : For,
:hemore^exprefTeth^.39. ofhis la# letter, the
jiverfion and hatred he hathagainft it, the more I
dfeem it, and the greater pleafure I take to han-
die, to examine, and to prepare it. Nor can I fuf-
ficiently praife the excellent qualities, which fo
rare a fubjeft poflefleth,nor the admirable reme-
dies which it fiirnifheth: Which are the confide-

rations, that have heretofore induced me, and

oblige me ftill to call the Viper one 01 the chief
Pillars of Phyfick.

It may be, that for this once Sign. Redz will
not doubt but that a difcourfe as rude as this,
i compos’d among coals and furnaces, which I
' have feldom quitted of late, is mine. He will
doubtlefs judge, that, if more underftanding men

|%ad put their hands to it, the reafonings thereof
| r would

( m ^

would be more fubtile, the-ftyle morepolit
and the exprefllons more elegant ; and the Gre \
and Latin quotations would not have been fp
red therein, both to ftrengthen the argurnef
thereof, and to adorn' & enlarge the-^olmare. Bl
for ail the contrarieties, which thedifferentco:
ceptions have bred between Sign. Redi and m<
I fliali always have a very great and a very dilj
interreff’d efteem for him;and fo much the more
becaufe I have great realon to conceive fom(
good opinion of my book,fmce it could defers
that fo intelligent & famous a perfon hath vouch
fafed to read it again and again with pleafure.
ashefaithhirafelf, that he hath taken the pain«
of tranfcribing many pages out of it word foi
word, and hath made it famous by his anfwer,and
by that alfo which a perfon of great parts, and a
high reputation hath made to ir,addrefsd to him-
felf on this fubjett. I cannot but much glory in
it, and highly declare my felf his obliged. And
if it fhoutd come to pafs, that the diverfityo
his experiments, the force of his arguments, o
the efteem he hath acquiredamong the Learned
fhould carry thebell from me in the fpirits ofal
the world ; the vidory, which he fhould thence
obtain, would not be much lefs advantagious for
me, then if the truth of my experiments, accom-
panied by my reafonings, had been able to bal
lance or even to prevail over his Sentiments anc
the writings of fo Illuftrious a Perfon. , *
FINIS.

i